| dc.description.abstract | The hospitality and tourism industry in Sri Lanka has traditionally played a
significant role in the country's economy, serving as a major source of foreign
exchange earnings. However, due to various crisis situations such as the Easter
Sunday attack, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current economic crisis, the
industry has experienced a decline in performance. This study aims to investigate
the impact of crises on the hospitality and tourism industry in the southern
province of Sri Lanka, analyse the changes in human resource practises adopted
to mitigate the crisis, and explore innovative HR practises to address future crises
in the sector. Data was collected through a pre-tested questionnaire survey
administered to 40 hotels representing three, four, and five-star categories.
Descriptive and non-parametric statistical methods were used for data analysis.
The research findings indicate that the recent crisis situations have had a
significant impact on various performance indicators of the hospitality and tourism
industry, including total bookings, average daily rate, revenue per available room,
average length of stay, and occupancy rate. The sector has implemented different
managerial strategies in areas such as labour force management, work
scheduling, wage and salary plans, and training schedules to mitigate the
adverse effects of crises. The study recommends the adoption of crisis
preparedness strategies through effective human resource management
practises to effectively address challenges during crisis situations in the
hospitality and tourism industry. | en_US |
