Kandy hoteliers plan destination push

Having incurred a loss of approximately over Rs.1 million for 982 room cancellations during the week communal clashes hit the hill capital, Kandy hoteliers are drawing up plans to once again sell the dream destination.

Of the cancellations, at least one hotel recorded over 250 cancellations as revealed at a March 17 meeting at the Mahaweli Reach with the participation of 18 members of the Kandy Hoteliers Association, its President Samantha Ratnayake told the Business Times.

He explained that in line with these issues hoteliers came together for a meeting with the Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake to discuss ways of overcoming the losses incurred and how to stop future cancellations.

In this regard, the hoteliers have decided to brief the embassies in Colombo by inviting them for a tour of Kandy to ensure they have a clear understanding of the ground situation in a bid to ensure that the travel advisories would be removed.

Mr. Ratnayake said that they would be hosting the embassy officials for a day in Kandy with a tour of the destination, a cultural show and providing accommodation at their hotels.

Funding for the programme would be provided by the Chief Minister’s budget allocated under the Regional Economic Development Authority (REDA).

In addition, he explained the hoteliers have discussed on how to counter attack the concerns aired through social media by hosting a site named kandy. com that would give the opinions of guests staying in and around Kandy.

In this respect, they hope to speak to guests visiting the different tourist attractions and from these locations highlight to the world that Kandy is safe to travel, Mr. Ratnayake said.

In a bid to carry out these plans, a meeting with the Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana and the Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga would be held next week.