Acting Tourism Minister vows to boost industry

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

Newly appointed Acting Tourism Minister, Faizer Musthapha kicked off his working campaign by making surprise visits to hotels approved by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB).

The Minister told the Sunday Observer that he had visited some of SLTB approved hotels in Colombo to check the hygienic standards which were far below expectations. "We warned them and gave a two- months period to improve the system."

He said," we should plan to attract regional tourism to offset the decline in the western market in the face of the travel advisaries issued by Japan, Australia, United States, France and several other European countries.

"We have to plan the Western market and attract new markets from China, Eastern Europe, Pakistan and Middle-East he pointed out.