Tourist industry should tap rich bio-diversity

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The tourist industry should tap the rich bio-diversity in the country to promote it as an ideal destination for eco-tourism. Though it is a small 5 percent who opt for eco-tourism, the numbers could be increased provided there is more investment and awareness created among tourists on the importance of protecting the environment, President, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka Hiran Cooray told the Sunday Observer.

As the new Vice President of the International Hotels and Resorts Association for the Asia Pacific region, he said he would take every step to counter negative propaganda in the international media about Sri Lanka and promote it as an ideal destination for tourists.

He said the MoU reached between the two major political parties has brought positive signals to the tourism industry. A common agenda to solve the burning issues in the country will be a big boost to the tourism sector and the economy at large. The collaborative efforts of both parties should be used to the maximum to resume peace talks.

Cooray said the number of tourist arrivals has dropped due to adverse publicity given in foreign media and the travel advisories issued by Germany, Italy, France and Holland.

He said if the security situation in the country does not improve with the peace talks materialising, the industry will be badly hit.

The tourism industry reaped good results with the ceasefire agreement in force since 2002 till the tsunami devastation wrecked the country in 2004. The industry continued to suffer since 2005 with the drop in occupancy rates in hotels. The occupancy in hotels is 50 percent below the projected rate. The occupancy rate in hotels has dropped to around 25-30 percent, Cooray said.

Hotels not only have to bear the drop in occupancy rates but also reduce the rates per occupant to attract tourists. The small hotel operators are the worst affected group since they have to pay interest to banks and the salaries of the employees.

Cooray said the tourism industry has to do a lot of image building and work with foreign tour operators to attract tourists to the country. We need to have effective marketing strategies in place to promote and project a better image of the country as an ideal tour destination to the world.

He said it was unfortunate the 2007 Budget had not given due attention to the tourism industry which is the third biggest foreign exchange earner in the country. The industry is disturbed over the US$ 10 visa fee imposed on tourist arrivals. Such measures would discourage tourists visiting Sri Lanka.

The amendments to the Tourism Act, No 38 of 2005 which encourages private sector involvement in the promotion of tourism has not been implemented.

The breakdown in the private sector investments were 70 for marketing, 15 for human resource development, 10 for development of tourism and 5 percent for conventional bureau.

Cooray said if there is peace in the country the industry could attract nearly 900,000 to one million tourists by 2010 to the country but not the one and half million target since there is lot of ground work to be done.

There is a need for more airlines, hotels, restaurants, lodges for eco-tourism, trained personnel and a solid road network to ease the hassle of travelling.

The private sector has to play a major role in the promotion of tourism, he said.

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