Tourism development should precede proliferation of star class hotels

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has contributed immensely to the economic development by attracting investment and generating employment in the country.

“However according to what I witness today the star class hotel industry has developed instead of the tourism industry as a whole. I feel that there is no development of the tourism industry in the country at all. There is a great divide between the hotel and the tourism industry,” said Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena who was chief guest at the 4th anniversary of the Doutchmark (Pvt) Ltd held at the Marino Beach Hotel in Colombo.

The MP said that youths who have completed their education today have discovered new avenues such as entrepreneurship and are making a valiant effort to pursue their careers.

Following the conclusion of the war in Sri Lanka, the hotel industry developed rapidly generating employment and also by enhancing the reputation of the country. The tourism industry in Sri Lanka collapsed totally during the terrorist war. Referring to Malaysia, he said the country developed new tools in the tourism industry tourism by dividing into different segments such as educational tourism and health tourism to attract foreign tourists. Malaysia also attracted foreign students to study to their prestigious universities.

The highlight of the 4th year celebration of Doutchmark (Pvt) Ltd with a spectacular display of a huge cake being lowered from the upper floor by two young women in a chariot like cart with the aid of a crane to the applause of the guests. Doutchmark’s Reservation Executive Ishan Amarakoon said Doutchmark travel started as a small company four years ago but their parent company was Isuru Enterprises. He said Doutchmark has been launched as a new brand of tea named Santhigau Tea for exports by its director Manjitha de Silva. The directors of the Doutchmark (Pvt) Ltd are Randula de Silva (Chairman), Edward de Silva, Chandani de Silva and Manjitha de Silva.