UAE’s Sri Lankan expats still plan on summer trips home despite high fares and an economic crisis

UAE’s Sri Lankan expats still plan on summer trips home despite high fares and an economic crisis

Dubai: Sri Lankan expats in the UAE – a good many of them, in fact – still plan to spend their summer breaks back home despite the steep airfares and cancellation of services by many airlines over the still simmering political and economic crisis there. Fares on the Dubai-Colombo route have hit highs of Dh2,400 for a one-way ticket, but could drop to Dh1,400 levels by mid-August. It is slightly cheaper to fly from Abu Dhabi – fares are still holding within a range of Dh1,000-Dh2,000. Much will depend on whether those airlines that have severely curtailed their services or cancelled in full bring these back and when. The return of travel and tourism to anywhere close to normalcy – as well as steady remittances – will be vital for the country’s short-term fortunes. None of which will faze expats such as Gayani Fernando, a former travel consultant, who is planning her fourth trip to the island country this year. “There are many issues like fuel shortages and power cuts, but if your parents are there, you need to go see them irrespective of what’s happening in the country,” said Fernando. “When you step inside a mall or shop, everything