Key officials absent at top tourism fairs

A revenue crisis at the Treasury is badly affecting the tourism sector with key officials unable to attend crucial overseas fairs due to budget constraints.

For the past two years, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) Chairman Nalaka Godahewa, the main government official promoting tourism, has not attended the Uk-based World Travel Mart held in November and the International Tourism, Berlin which began this week.

Industry sources observe that there is an increased need for high level representation at key travel industry events as they are required to conduct one-on-one business meetings and other related activities.

But the authorities believe Sri Lankan foreign missions are able to stand-in for top officials, thus cutting down on colossal expenditure for participation at these travel fairs, sources said.

However this rule strangely appears to apply only to top officials while some 'favourites' are sent for these events.

A week ago, it was announced that Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and another SLT official would be the two government representatives joining the mostly-private sector delegation. Sources told the Business Times that a few days later three other officials at SLT hand-picked by the Treasury to attend the event caused a controversy resulting in these individuals then being held back from attending the ITB. These three were not nominated by SLT. Following this controversy, the authorities believed it was necessary now to consider nominating someone as a representa-

Sources told the Business Times that a few days later three other officials at SLT handpicked by the Treasury to attend the event caused a controversy resulting in these individuals then being held back from attending the ITB. These three were not nominated by SLT

tive of Sri Lanka Tourism to take charge of the situation there.

In a last ditch effort authorities on March 2, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Director General Vipula Wanigasekara was asked to join the delegation. In the meantime, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Managing Director Rumy Jaufer has also not been granted Treasury approval to attend a related trade event in China.