THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SRI LANKAN TOURISM SECTOR AND ITS FUTURE PROSPECTS

ABSTRACT:The novel coronavirus pandemic is imposing global travel restrictions. The tourism sector isundoubtedly one of the most severely impacted victims. We seek to explore the potential immediate and longterm effects impact on the tourism due to the pandemic. This study used a comprehensive secondary data fromvarious government and international sources to evaluate the potential impacts of COVID 19 on Sri Lanka’stourism sector. The finding suggests that economic and labour market distortions represent a significant impacton the country’s tourism sector and on its future economic potential. The need for a comprehensive recoveryplan, the imposition of health and safety measures and a diversifying of the market are seen to be the highestpriority for the tourism sector. This study seeks to outline pragmatic solutions for a post – pandemic tourismsector revival and in particular the enabling of a resurgence in tourist visitations through ensuring the health andsafety measures.

KEY WORDS:COVID 19, Tourism, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Sri Lanka, Impact, Labor market