Reduce foreign workers in local tourist industry - Hospitality Institute chief

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has grown leaps and bounds during the past three years and is poised for more growth this year with the number of rooms and staff to be increased to cater to the influx of visitors, Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka International Branch Chairman Sidath Kodikara told the media at the institute’s AGM last week.

He said the Sri Lanka has adequate capable staff and that the number of foreign workers in the industry should be reduced. Many Sri Lankan managers in the hospitality industry are employed overseas while foreign staffers are employed in local hotels.

“It is vital to increase the number of professionals in the hospitality industry. The aim of the Institute of Hospitality is to impart the skills and fine tune professionals to meet global standards. This year and the next will be exciting years for the Institute which will forge ahead with strong alliances with key players in the hospitality industry to take it to the next stage of growth,” Kodikara said. He said tourist spending increased by a 26.9 percent and arrivals grew by 17.8 percent last year. India and China are growing markets for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Paddy Withana said the tourism industry has many opportunities to be creative and implement one’s ideas. The industry is poised for steady growth this year to attract over two million visitors by the end of this year.

The industry has slashed its initial target of attracting 2.5 million visitors by end of this year due to unfavourable global conditions. Sri Lanka was listed by the Lonely Planet Magazine’s Dream Trips 2016 among the top 10 destinations to visit in 2016.

- LF