{"id":23218,"date":"2024-01-11T16:34:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T16:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/?p=23218"},"modified":"2024-07-19T12:22:58","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T11:22:58","slug":"fcdo-sri-lanka-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/fcdo-sri-lanka-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Campaign to Refresh the FCDO Advice For Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”23184″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Our destinations are like our children \u2013 it\u2019s impossible to pick a favourite. But we can\u2019t deny that Sri Lanka<\/a> holds a special place in our hearts. After all, it’s the birthplace of ETG, our spiritual home.<\/p>\n

We aren\u2019t know-it-alls, but we do know just how much this beautiful island nation rewards travellers of every kind (it\u2019s no exaggeration that this emerald isle has something for everyone). We also know just how much these travellers reward Sri Lanka and its people\u2019s livelihoods in return. Plus, we know that Sri Lanka is a safe place to visit<\/a> \u2013 arguably one of the safest countries for tourists in Asia \u2013 but you wouldn\u2019t guess this by looking at the current Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO<\/a>) advice on the UK Government website.<\/p>\n

So, we’re spearheading a campaign to have this advice reviewed and amended.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Intrigued?<\/h2>\n

Press play on the video below of Sam talking through our campaign in more detail:[\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/901842161″ align=”center”][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Why does the FCDO advice for Sri Lanka need to be reviewed?<\/h2>\n

It needs a rethink: not only is the guidance overcautious<\/strong>\u00a0but it\u2019s also based on out-of-date information<\/strong> (like the anti-government protests and fuel shortages that took place back in early 2022). It simply doesn\u2019t portray Sri Lanka fairly or give accurate, up-to-date advice to British travellers.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What are the broader issues?<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve noticed that this issue isn\u2019t only the case for Sri Lanka<\/strong> \u2013 the FCDO is currently providing out-of-date advice for other countries, too (the majority of which are small countries). Not only does this unfairly diminish the tourist industry in these countries<\/strong> (a serious matter in itself), but it also undermines British citizens\u2019 confidence in FCDO advice as a whole<\/strong>. We are calling on ministers to reform the FCDO\u2019s approach from the bottom up (to ensure consistency among countries and continents) so that tourist industries and travellers can place their trust in the advice once again.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s joined forces with us on this campaign?<\/h2>\n

Over 35 politicians, journalists and well-known Sri Lankan personalities<\/strong> \u2013 The Rt. Hon. the Lord Naseby PC (Founder and Joint Chair of All Party Sri Lankan APPG), Malik Fernando (Sri Lankan Tourism Alliance), Richard Nuttall (CEO, Sri Lankan Airlines), Kumar Sangakkara (Former Captain of Sri Lankan Cricket Team, MCC President) and Mahela Jayawardene (Former Captain of Sri Lankan Cricket Team) to name a few \u2013 are backing our campaign. They have joined forces with us to support Sri Lanka\u2019s tourist industry and signed an open letter to challenge the FCDO advice<\/strong> (below).[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Where Has This Campaign Been Covered?<\/h2>\n

The Independent featured our open letter on the 11th of January, and you can read it here<\/a> (paywall). Another highlight was Lord Naseby mentioning the campaign (and Experience Travel Group) in the House of Lords on the 6th of March. You can view that here<\/a> between 18:21:19 and 18:24:13.<\/p>\n

The trade papers TTG (Travel Trade Gazaette) and Travel Weekly have been very supportive and have featured it many times such as here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a> and here<\/a>. \u00a0 We’ve also had coverage in the Telegraph<\/a>, the Mail, the Daily FT<\/a> (Sri Lanka) Yahoo<\/a>! and MSN<\/a>.
\n<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/920418667?share=copy” align=”center”][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

MISLEADING GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ADVICE DAMAGING TOURISM<\/p>\n

SIR,<\/p>\n

The tourism industry in Sri Lanka currently employs over 488,000 people and is anticipated to boost by 1.6 per cent each year until it reaches over one million by 2028. One-in-five people in Sri Lanka rely on income generated by tourism to the country. The island\u2019s ancient temples, beaches, lush tropical scenery, and sheer variety of wildlife is extraordinary. There is perhaps no other country on earth with such complex biodiversity and cultural riches per square mile.<\/p>\n

Yet the UK government is systematically undermining the travel industry there, by retaining outdated and overly harsh travel advice which deters British citizens from visiting.<\/p>\n

Neighbouring countries benefit from more generous advice despite having more instances of British nationals being exposed to danger.<\/p>\n

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says it has recently revised Sri Lanka guidance. But the changes are synthetic and inadequate as officials persist in drawing attention to protests and violent unrest which have long since ceased.<\/p>\n

In fact, the whole system of FCDO advice appears to be inconsistent with most of Europe and North America escaping serious warnings, despite incidents of rioting, political unrest, and violent crime.<\/p>\n

These anomalies serve not only to diminish one country\u2019s tourist industry but to undermine confidence in FCDO advice as a whole.<\/p>\n

We are calling on ministers to reform the FCDO\u2019s approach from the bottom up. A new approach should ensure there is consistency so tourist industries and travellers alike can place their trust in the advice once again.<\/p>\n

Yours,<\/p>\n

Sam Clark, Experience Travel Group<\/em>
\nThe Rt. Hon. the Lord Naseby PC, Founder and Joint Chair of All Party Sri Lankan APPG<\/em>
\nKumar Sangakkara, Former Captain of Sri Lankan Cricket Team, MCC President<\/em>
\nMahela Jayawardene, Former Captain of Sri Lankan Cricket Team<\/em>
\nChris Rowles, Chairman, AITO (The Specialist Travel Association)<\/em>
\nNishad Wijetunga, President, SLAITO (Sri Lankan Association of Inbound Tour Operators)<\/em>
\nRichard Nuttall, CEO, Sri Lankan Airlines<\/em>
\nMalik Fernando, Chair, Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance<\/em>
\nKaran Gokani, Co-founder and Director, Hoppers<\/em>
\nCecil Balmond OBE, Designer<\/em>
\nJohn Gimlette, Author, Elephant Complex<\/em>
\nHiran Cooray, Chairman, Jetwing Symphony<\/em>
\nHashan Cooray, Director, Jetwing Hotels Ltd.<\/em>
\nMike Sedgwick MD FRCP, Physiological Society of Sri Lanka<\/em>
\nMichael Bunston, Chairman at International Tea Committee Ltd<\/em>
\nNick Pulley, Founder & CEO, Selective Asia<\/em>
\nAndrew Hunt, Founder and CEO, Holiday Architects<\/em>
\nMartin Garland, Director, Expression Holidays<\/em>
\nJonny Bealby, CEO, Wild Frontiers<\/em>
\nHenry Fitch, CEO, Teardrop Hotels<\/em>
\nNeil Dobbs, MD, Travel Gallery<\/em>
\nFarzana Dobbs, Owner, Rosyth Estate House<\/em>
\nLeanne Bonner-Coooke MBE, Entrepreneur, Former CEO of e-Bate Limited<\/em>
\nMaxime Wickramasinghe, Committee Member, SLAITO<\/em>
\nChandra Wickramasinghe, Chairman, Thema Collection<\/em>
\nTim Jacobson, Owner, Manor House Concepts<\/em>
\nChamali Fernando, Barrister<\/em>
\nTim Edwards, Owner, Gal Oya Lodge<\/em>
\nEleanor Miller, Director, Sri Lanka Collection<\/em>
\nAlisdair Luxmoore, Director, Fleewinter<\/em>
\nJustin Wateridge, CEO, Steppes Travel<\/em>
\nEleanor Milner, Director, Sri Lanka Collection<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

How can you get involved?<\/h2>\n

Please show your support by following the campaign and joining the conversation.<\/p>\n

#ETG #FCDO #OPENLETTER #SRILANKAISSAFE[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

KEEN TO VISIT (OR REVISIT) SRI LANKA?<\/h2>\n

You can browse our holiday ideas to Sri Lanka<\/a> or get in touch on 020 7924 7133<\/span>\r\n \t.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, fill out an online enquiry form to start your journey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s clear to us that the current FCDO advice for Sri Lanka needs a rethink. Find out about the campaign we’re running to refresh it and get involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23281,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[72,953,1399],"coauthors":[924],"class_list":["post-23218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sri-lanka","tag-politics","tag-safety","tag-ideas"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":12081,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23218"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23218\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23218"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=23218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}