Effective campaign needed to promote herbal treatment to tourists

To popularise native herbal treatment in Sri Lanka an effective campaign has to be launched to promote health tourism in the country by using modern technology available to gain quick results, said the State Minister of Tourism Arundika Fernando at a media briefing held at the Galle Face Hotel on Tuesday. The briefing was in view of French and Belgium media representatives visiting the country on a familiarisation tour. The state minister was replying to a query raised by the media on the subject of promoting health tourism in the country.

The State Minister said that they were having discussions with the airline industry to resume direct flights from France and Germany to Sri Lanka to bring more tourists in to the country. He said it was important to increase the number of French tourists visiting Sri Lanka. According to Sri Lanka’s Presidential manifesto the aim of the government is to bring five million tourists to the country in the near future, he added.

President of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka Sanath Ukwatte said the French tourist market was important to Sri Lanka and it was also important to show that Sri Lanka was a safe destination. What happened on Easter Sunday last year was an isolated incident and steps have been taken by the government to prevent such incidents in future.

Chairman of Salaun Holidays in France Michelle Salaun said that his company will make a consorted effort to bring more French tourists to Sri Lanka. Chairman of Connaissance de Ceylan Chandra Wikramasinghe was also present. (JJ)