Sri Lanka, Sept. 17 -- John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) says winter forward bookings at its resorts and hotels in Sri Lanka and Maldives are reaching pre-COVID-19 levels indicating a pent-up demand.

"If you look at the winter season (December-March), you are seeing bookings somewhat close to last year's figures. In fact, in Maldives, we are seeing better than what we had last year," JKH Deputy Chairman Gihan Cooray told an investor forum in Colombo this week.

However, he emphasised that the respective governments have to work on building conducive ground situations to attract these tourists who have shown their willingness to travel to the two destinations.

"For that to realise into real numbers, the ground situation has to be conducive,...