Authorities have said there were nine bombers, all believed to be members of an offshoot of a small Sri Lankan Islamist group. They took aim at churches and luxury hotels, emblems of the diversity and hospitality that this island nation has successfully marketed to lure a growing number of overseas visitors.
The country drew 2.3 million visitors last year, 10% more than in 2017. Before the start of 2019, the Lonely Planet travel guide christened Sri Lanka the year’s, gushing over “its mix of religions and cultures, its timeless temples, its rich and accessible wildlife, its growing surf scene and its people who defy all odds by their welcome and friendliness after decades of civil conflict.”
One industry leader predicted the tourism industry could lose as much as $1.5 billion as guests cancel bookings, tour companies search for alternative destinations, investors reassess business meetings and conferences are called off Hotels that were still operating had reintroduced “wartime security measures,” according to the Daily Mirror newspaper, including X-ray baggage scanners at entrances and more extensive security checks for guests.“We found him on CCTV footage. He came down for breakfast,” De Silva said. “He actually stood in the buffet line.”
The U.S., Britain, Australia and Canada issued travel warnings to their citizens after the attacks. China, an increasingly influential investor in Sri Lanka, warned its citizens not to travel there because of the “huge security risks” involved.
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