PHUKET, Thailand, Jan. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Last year's killer waves have caused unprecedented devastation on tourism of the Indian ocean and Southeast Asian countries, among which Sri Lanka, the Maldives are the most severely affected, according to a report from the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    Tourism has been one of the hardest-hit industries in the tsunami disaster which claimed at least 280,000 people in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

    On top of the worst-hit tourism list is Sri Lank although its interior destinations continue to be in operation. It was followed by the Maldives, with about 20 percent of the resorts shut down, said a WTO report delivered at its task force meeting being held here.

    The task force meeting is being held here in preparation for a WTO Executive Council's emergency meeting called to help the region's tourism industry after the tsunami disaster.

    Due to their smaller territories, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have to suffer even more from the unexpected calamity. It is estimated that the former's tourism revenue loss could total 120-150 million US dollars and about two years have to be spent to refurbish the its public infrastructure.

    For the Maldives, whose economy depends largely on tourism revenue, the recovery will rely on international aid. Currently, 64 of a total of 87 tourist resorts and 80 percent of the total accommodation capacity on the island are already operating.

    However, in Indonesia, one of the worst-battered countries by tsunami, the areas affected by the catastrophe are not major tourism destinations and the direct impact on tourism is not likely to be large, according to the report.

    But "there are concerns about a spillover impact on tourism due to residual fears" in Indonesia, said the report.

    For Thailand, the situation turns to be much more grim. Three famous beach destinations were hit by tidal waves. In Phangnga Province along, one of the most affected areas, only 1,023 of a total of 6,369 existing hotel rooms are operating.

    Since tourism is the main economic activity in the most affected areas, the report noted "to restore the tourist activity to previous levels in the damaged areas would be decisive to the full recovery of the social and economic life in the region." Enditem