France has warned its nationals against making non-essential visits to Sri Lanka because of an increase in violence and suicide attacks, Reuters reported.
In an advisory published on its Web site (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr), on Thursday the Foreign Ministry strongly advised French visitors to avoid the north and east of the island and warned against non-urgent travel in the rest of the country. The move is likely to further negatively impact tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, where violence has been rising sharply for several months.
"Given the resumption in violence and suicide attacks ... (travellers are) advised for the moment to reconsider all non-essential travel to Sri Lanka," the French Foreign ministry said.
The impact of the escalating violence means Sri Lanka's top hotel groups are increasingly relying on their Maldivian operations and investments into India for survival, LankaBusinessOnline reported this week.
In October, tourists coming from Europe fell 24 percent to 16,000 whereas from key markets like UK, Germany and France it is down even further, Aitken Spence Hotels told LBO.
Indian tourist arrivals, which have been keeping overall numbers of arrivals better than last year, has also shown a decline in October, despite being up 19 percent for the year.
In an advisory published on its Web site (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr), on Thursday the Foreign Ministry strongly advised French visitors to avoid the north and east of the island and warned against non-urgent travel in the rest of the country. The move is likely to further negatively impact tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, where violence has been rising sharply for several months.
"Given the resumption in violence and suicide attacks ... (travellers are) advised for the moment to reconsider all non-essential travel to Sri Lanka," the French Foreign ministry said.
The impact of the escalating violence means Sri Lanka's top hotel groups are increasingly relying on their Maldivian operations and investments into India for survival, LankaBusinessOnline reported this week.
In October, tourists coming from Europe fell 24 percent to 16,000 whereas from key markets like UK, Germany and France it is down even further, Aitken Spence Hotels told LBO.
Indian tourist arrivals, which have been keeping overall numbers of arrivals better than last year, has also shown a decline in October, despite being up 19 percent for the year.
