SL tourist sector perturbed over high rates at tourist visit sites

Sri Lanka's private-driven tourism industry has urged the authorities to improve facilities at local sites frequented by tourists where entry rates have sharply risen. While the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has promised to intervene, the agency says that since these sites don't come under the SLTDA it can request but not direct changes.

Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Devindre Seneviratne said that they had written to the authorities urging their intervention following recent sudden increases in entrance fee to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens from June 1 this year. Entry at the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) is set to increase to Rs. 2,000 in December from an increase of Rs.1,500 in July, against Rs. 1,000.

"In the areas that we have identified we have asked the relevant authorities to ensure the adequate facilities and services are provided to the tourists," Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Director General Malraj Kiriella told the Business Times in response to the issues raised by the tourism industry pertaining to the rate hike.

Mr. Kiriella noted that it was unfair to state that the rates charged were high without carrying out a proper study to understand how these sites could be rated.

But he explained that since the sites were under the purview of the respective depart- ments of Archeology, Wildlife Conservation, National Botanical Gardens the Central Cultural Fund, and the authorities in charge of the Dalada Maligawa, they could not be regulated (controlled) by the SLTDA.

The SLTDA has however, been involved in discussions with the relevant authorities and the tourism industry to work out a solution to these issues.

Mr. Kiriella noted that they have raised the issues with the respective departments and asked them to ensure they provide adequate facilities for the fees they charge at the entrance to these attractions.

Follow-ups are being carried out by the SLTDA to determine whether these places do provide the necessary changes as deemed important to attract tourists to these sites, he explained.

SLAITO President Seneviratne pointed out that such haphazard increases were a problem since tours were planned in advance and it was difficult to adjust the packages later.

The tour operators have pointed out in the letter that increased rates have created dissatisfaction among visitors to the island as a result of which these attractions are skipped in the tour packages and only promoted as an optional visit.

It was highlighted in a letter to the authorities that the some of the best known places like the Taj Mahal in India, Giza Pyramids in Egypt and Borobudur in Indonesia were much cheaper to visit at US$17, 10 and 15, respectively.

Places like the Peradeniya Gardens had increased their rates only after a lapse of five years, authorities of these locations had stated. The usual time period for renewal of fees is every three years.

Authorities at the national gardens have noted that this new increase of upto Rs.1500 was from the previous Rs.400 following Treasury and Cabinet approval.

The issue of the rate hike was also taken up by SLTDA Chairman Paddy Withana in a letter addressed to the head of the national botanical gardens highlighting the fact that the reason for the reduced number of days of stay was due to the high prices of tour packages.

The packages were high priced due to the high fees charged at the entrance to these places of interest, Mr. Withana stated adding that Sri Lanka is one of the most expensive countries for entrance fees compared to its competitors.