Security issues in Europe, an opportunity for Lanka - Experts

The newly appointed Tourism Advisory Board held an emergency meeting at the Tourism Ministry last Friday to discuss the opportunities available in Russia as a result of the halting of flights to Middle Eastern destinations and the security crisis gripping Europe.

The Ministry in consultation with the SLTDA has drawn up a plan to carry out extensive destination marketing campaigns in Russia early next year.

The campaign includes one-on-one meetings with key travel agents and industry representatives in Russia.

The Board Members said that all the Russian charter flights which were booked for the winter season to Middle Eastern destinations have been cancelled. The Board decided to look into the possibility of diverting these flights to Sri Lanka during the winter season.

A sub-committee headed by Shiromal Cooray was appointed to formulate a short-term promotional plan. Meanwhile travel and tourism industry leaders who make up the Tourism Advisory Board expressed serious concern on the Budget proposal to cut funding to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

It was pointed out that the abolition of the Tourism Development Levy (TDL) and withdrawal of the embarkation tax contribution to these two institutions would adversely affect the industry when it was in need of a boost.

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga assured the Advisory Board that there were adequate funds to carry out the planned promotional campaigns for 2016 and if at all an issue will crop up only in 2017.

The SLTDA has begun registering the informal sector. Chairman of the Authority, Paddy Withana said an online registration system will be introduced soon to simplify the process.

He said satellite hotel school lecturers will carry out site inspections of online registered properties across the island to fast track the process.