World Tourism Day: Industry on upbeat

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The annual World Tourism Day (WTD) would be celebrated on September 27 with high sentiments and hopes never before felt in the industry.

Series of problems starting from the 1983 ethnic violence, 1989 insurrection, tsunami and the three decades of war (resulting in adverse travel advisories) have dampened the smooth flow of the industry. Tourism was never given time to settle in as problem after problem loomed.

However, with the war ending, the industry is on an upbeat and looking for the best years to come.

Already signs of what is to be are on the horizon with tourism arrivals increase by almost 40 percent year on year. New investments are being infused with the foundation stone being laid for Sri Lanka’s first six star hotel in Kaplitiya.

Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism, Bernard Goonethllike said that they were targeting around 415, 000 arrivals. However, with the ending of the war we can now look forward to passing the 500, 000 arrival mark,” he said optimistically. Last year there were 438,000 visitors generating US $320 million.

Director General S. Kaleselvam said that they will hit the Rs. 400 million revenue mark this year.

The main ceremony of World Tourism Day is being held at the Mount Lavinia Beach. In addition to that, 2009 WTD celebrations would include a cleaning and tree planting campaign in the Marine Drive.

This year will mark the 30th Anniversary of the UNWTO World Tourism Day and UNWTO has declared this year’s theme as “Tourism Celebrating Diversity”.

Kandyan dancers in action

The Government has declared a Tourism Week to mark “World Tourism Day” which falls on September 27. The Tourism Week will begin today and continue till October 3. Sri Lanka Tourism is planning to organize several programmes island wide with the cooperation of provincial tourism authorities. The aim is to achieve an environment friendly tourism growth.

The Ministry of Tourism is keen to give vigor to the industry to usher economic prosperity.

In this context, Sri Lanka Tourism is planning to organize several programmes to celebrate this year’s World Tourism Day island wide with the cooperation of provincial tourism authorities.

Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day.

This year will mark the 30th Anniversary of the UNWTO World Tourism Day and UNWTO has declared this year’s theme as “Tourism Celebrating Diversity”.

Tarnish the image

Like the much talked about Channel four fiasco, a similar mischievous act was enacted in the tourism area too when the recently concluded highly successful Hikkaduwa beach fest was targeted.

Local newspapers and web sites including national newspapers went to town publishing nude images what they called was taken at the event. One weekend Sinhala tabloid newspaper published the images and challenged the authorities to disprove it.

However today the Criminal Investigation Department conducting investigations into the incident, had arrested four suspects connected to this false campaign following a complaint lodged on August, 19.

Following this investigation, on September 16, two employees attached to a local firm were arrested by the Police after obtaining a warrant order from the Colombo Magistrate Court to search the place for the alleged distribution of the false e-mail through internet. On September 17, another suspect who had kept the documents relating to the false e-mail and distributed it was also arrested.After questioning the suspects, it has been revealed that the original e-mail Hikka Beach Fest has been sent by a person serving as a supply officer attached to the Tourism Ministry. He has also been arrested by the Police on September 20 and the CID team is conducting further investigations. It has been confirmed that the photographs included in this e-mail were from a collection of photographs published on the Dubai Beach at Night in the year 2006 as reported in last Sunday Observer.

Tourists at Hikkaduwa beach

Minister of Tourism Promotion, Faizer Mustafa said that this yet another campaign launched to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka. “I lodged this complaint when I received a defamatory e-mail Hikkafest with sex on August 14 and August 16 and I am thankful for the law enforcement authorities for taking swift action,” he said.

Police are conducting further investigations under the Provisions of the 2007, No. 24 Computer Crimes Act Police Spokesman DIG Nimal Mediwaka said.

Hikkaduwa Hoteliers Association President Siri Gunawardane said that naked and half-naked dancing was completely banned during this festival. “The event brought in much needed revenue to the area and I was so sad that Sri Lankans were tying to tarnish the good image of the country at a time tourism was going to raise its head again,” he said.

WTD 2009 PROGRAMME MAIN ACTIVITIES Mount Lavinia Beach (08.30 hrs - 09.30 hrs) Cleaning Campaign Tree Planting Campaign Unveiling of Guide Boards towards a “Pleasant Environment” Handling over a trailer for garbage collection Laying the foundation Stone for the New Police Post Marine Drive (10.00 hrs - 11.30 hrs) Cleaning Campaign Tree Planting Campaign Launching of “Tourist Friendly Tuk Tuk” Painting Competition by school children Kit Competition

The Ministry of Tourism along with Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority will be organising the World Tourism Day 2009 (WTD09) celebrations. The main celebrations will be held in the Marine Drive and Mount Lavinia beach. Further island wide celebrations will take place in all provinces with the support of provincial administrations and stakeholders under the Ministry of Tourism’s declared “Tourism Week” program.

The main program will kick off on the 27th morning in Mount Lavinia Beach with a cleaning campaign and tree planting campaign with the patronage of Nandana Gunatilleke, Minister of Tourism. Other activities in the beach would include, unveiling of Guide Boards towards a “Pleasant Environment” and handing over a trailer for garbage collection.

Coral Sands Hotel one of the most scenic hotels in hikkaduwa

The main official ceremony will commence in the Marine Drive at 10.00 hours. The chief guest will be Nandana Gunatilleke, Minister for Tourism. The program will commence with a cleaning and tree planting campaign along the Marine drive.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has set as a target to achieve 2.5 mn tourists by 2016. Although seemingly rather ambitious the signs of resurgence we are witnessing now truly encourage us to rush to the target putting together all our efforts. This year’s Tourism Day theme augurs well with our country situation. We are a diverse nation having a multi-ethnic, multi-religious population. Our nature is highly diverse with varied climatic conditions and a gamut of flora and fauna, exist within diverse forest covers”, said K.A.D. George Michahel, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.

Indeed, the stage is set for tourism in Sri Lanka to leap forward.

Tourist arrivals for 2009:

Month 	Arrivals 

Jan 	38,468 
Feb 	34,169 
Mar 	34,065 
Apr 	26,054
May 	24,739 
Jun 	30,234 
Jul 	42,323 
Aug 	41,207