Tourism officials say committed for industry growth despite challenges
„Committed to achieving key objectives of Lanka Tourism Strategic Plan 2017–2020 „ SLTDA says focusing on high-yielding tourists and sustainable tourism „ President absent at Sri Lanka Tourism Awards held after 6 years „
Officials at the Tourism and Wildlife Ministry is committed to achieving key objectives of the Sri Lanka Tourism Strategic Plan 2017–2020 despite the present challenges, said Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, S. Hettiarachchi.
He made these remarks addressing the Sri Lanka Tourism Awards 2018 held at Shangri La Colombo last Thursday. The event that recognized the key contributors to Sri Lanka tourism was held after a lapse of 6 years.
Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism industry has become a key victim of the ongoing political crisis in the country. The industry stakeholders last week said they were witnessing a 20 percent cancellation in the region. Tourism makes up about 5 percent of Sri Lanka’s US $ 87 billion economy.
Meanwhile, speaking at the occasion, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Director General Upali Ratnayake stressed that SLTDA would focus on attracting high-yielding tourists to the Island while promoting sustainable tourism.
He noted that earrings from tourism have grown faster than tourist arrivals during 2010 to 2017 period. Sri Lanka recorded 654,476 tourist arrivals with US $ 576 million in tourism earnings in 2010.
Last year, tourist arrivals reached 2.1 million and tourist earnings hit a record US $ 3.9 billion.
“This is what the industry needs and the country needs. We also have to bear in mind how we are responsible in protecting our resource base— environment, culture, heritage and society. Continuing tourism while protecting these aspects is our responsibility,” he stressed.
Given the challenges faced by Sri Lanka, Ratnayake emphasised that the increased contribution from the tourism sector by the way of foreign exchange is crucial to the national economy, specially in the backdrop of fluctuating contributions from worker remittances and apparel to the economy.
Further, he noted that tourism industry is playing a key role for regional development and prosperity of the nation.
President Maithripala Sirisena, who was to grace the award ceremony as the chief guest, did not attend the event. Instead Sirisena’s Chief of Staff H.M. Hitisekara was present at the award ceremony representing him.
Former Tourism and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga attended the event and took part in the presentation of awards on the invitation of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
The Tourism and Wildlife Ministry officials said they invited Amaratunga and former SLTDA Chairman Kavan Ratnayake for the award ceremony as they played a key role in re-launching the Tourism Awards following a sixyear hiatus.
Meanwhile, the head of Sri Lanka Tourism Awards judging panel, Kishu Gomes stressed that the participation in the travel and tourism industry award events should be encouraged as this year’s award ceremony was marred by a low participation.