Travel / Lifestyle

Committees to help promote tourism

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The Ministry of Tourism is planning to set up committees with a wider spectrum of stakeholders and a consultative process to promote tourism under the Mahinda Chintana 10-year strategic plan.

Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism George Michael said the ministry has set up ten committees involving all stakehoders in the industry whose services will be obtained for consultation and implementation of the development plan.

Committees on tourism presidential awards, niche products such as eco lodges, villas, spiritual tourism catering to pilgrims, domestic tourism and shopping are some committees that will be set up immediately to put tourism back to its full operational capacity, he said.

Michael said the objective in setting up committees is also to involve all professionals in the industry whose contributions will have a positive impact on the growth of tourism in the country.

The industry has shifted its focus from the European to the Asia Pacific region which is a potential market to promote Lankan tourism and build a positive image about the country.

The EU countries are trying to promote tourism in their own countries rather than in other regions discouraging tour operators opting for low cost travel, he said.

The Ministry of Tourism is collaborating with Provincial Council Ministers to develop tourism at provincial level which would help boost domestic tourism. The Ministry is confident that given a conducive atmosphere for tourism in the country the 600,000 target set for this year will be achieved, the Secretary said.

Sri Lanka Tourism Board (SLTB) Chairman Renton de Alwis said the committees will assist the Board in drawing up plans for tourism which would be a better product for the country offering customers a richer and interesting experience.

There is considerable attention paid on developing the Indian, Chinese and Middle East arrivals which are potential markets for tourism while consolidating the EU market, he said.

What is required is to stay positive which should be the theme for the industry and not panic over trivial issues where security is concerned.

Tourist Hotels Association President Hiran Cooray said with the new appointments to the Ministry of Tourism and the SLTB and the collective efforts of all stakehoders there is hope that tourism will be much better than earlier.

Cooray said all depends on the peace process and if the war continues the industry will be further affected and the number of tourist arrivals will drop sharply.

The Hotels Association has been collaborating with the industry by drawing up contingency plans in times of crisis similar to the Airforce Base attack in Katunayake where operations at the airport were brought back to normalcy in a short spell, he said.

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SriLankan helps another school

The staff of SriLankan Airlines, in their continuous quest of uplifting the quality of education of children and young people throughout the nation, recently provided a helping hand for yet another school.

More than 40 members of the staff of the National Carrier's Airport Service Support Department and SriLankan Airlines Orators Club volunteered to spend a day at Sri Sugathapala Kanishta Vidyalaya in Minuwangoda, making urgent repairs to its roof and giving the school a facelift by colour washing it.

The school, which has 200 students, also received a gift of a personal computer and a UPS.

Vice Principal of the school, L. Amarasena said: "The manner in which the staff of SriLankan Airlines spent every moment of that day in a variety of tasks to make our school a better place is an example to all of us at Sugathapala Kanishta Vidyalaya."

SriLankan and its charity arm SriLankan Cares have made the education of children its priority in community service activities. It re-built a tsunami-ravaged school, Al Bahriya Maha Vidyalaya, in the eastern town of Kalmunai, teaming up with its business partners Lufthana Technik and HelpAlliance to raise the Rs. 75 million funding.

Four years ago SriLankan adopted Meepagama Jayanthi Maha Vidyalaya in the flood-stricken Ratnapura district, and transformed the school with new buildings and modern amenities such as computer labs and a library.

Manager Airport Service Support, Ajith Fernando said: "SriLankan already has a reputation for large-scale school projects. But our efforts also extend to smaller schools which deserve support.

The students of Sugathapala Maha Vidyalaya have had impressive academic results, with three of them qualifying at the last Grade 5 Scholarship examination. We intend to provide more support for this school. A second stage has already been planned".