Tourists still feel Lanka the best - Mustapha

by Nilma DOLE

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Deputy Tourism Minister Faizser Mustapha spoke to the Sunday Observer on the future potential of tourism, as many come to Sri Lanka to escape the winter. He also explained about the benefits and uplift of tourism with the proposed Budget 2009.

Q: Explain how Sri Lanka's tourism industry could survive with the global credit crunch?

A: What Sri Lanka has to offer is unmatched anywhere else making it a 'value for money' destination in this region especially when it comes to having a budget holiday. The recent terrorism incidents definitely raises our concerns but we have created awareness in portraying Sri Lanka as a safe destination, highlighting terrorism as a global phenomena.

Q: How has the tourism environment in Sri Lanka managed to sustain so far eventhough there are strict advisories with regard to the present conflict situation?

A: By working with nationals from other countries and officials in their foreign offices, we are working hard to relax those travel advisories. Up-to-date over 5 billion tourists have visited Sri Lanka from 1983 and none of them have been targeted in any way. Even though a part of the North has been at war, we can see that many Sri Lankans and foreigners opt to travel to other places down south for a holiday. For example, tourists travelling to Pakistan avoid the conflict areas and travel to other parts of the country.

Q: What are the future plans for Sri Lanka's tourism sector?

A: Efforts are already under way to promote Sri Lanka's Buddhist trail to countries where Buddhism is a major religion. The Middle East market is also an initiative that I have Daily Newslooked with means of enlightening potential visitors. We are also making it financially viable for charter operators to land in Sri Lanka because our ground-handling charges are quite expensive compared to the rest of the region.

With regard to increasing tourist arrivals to the country we are also tapping into the Eastern Europe and Maldives markets by increasing the frequency of flights. I'm also chairing a committee to develop the hotel industry in the East with the participation of the Eastern Province Chief Minister and some private sector companies in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Q: What benefits are in place for tourism with the proposed Budget 2009?

A: There are benefits for tourism with the new Budget proposed by our President. Community tourism villages have been proposed to be set up at a sum of Rs. 100 million through the 'Gama Neguma' programme. The VAT decrease to 12% will provide relief to tourism enterprises and freezing of loans for another 6 months is also positive for the tourism sector.

The fuel adjustment levy reduction to 15% for a period of one year for tourist hotels and industries is also welcomed in the new Budget.

This Government is not going to compromise the sovereignty of the country for the sake of economic concerns. Therefore once Sri Lanka achieves peace, the tourism sector will be the first to benefit. I am confident that about 1.5 million tourists will come to Sri Lanka in a span of a few months once the conflict situation returns to normal.