Indian, Russian tourists a quick fix for forex

Tourism authorities are drawing up plans to generate revenue through “instant” solutions by targeting India and Russia to increase the foreign exchange earnings.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) new Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu told the Business Times that they are currently drawing up mid-term and long-term strategies to generate increased number of tourists.

In this respect, authorities are currently focusing on the next six months to carry out road shows in India and Russia since “we need an instant solution”, he explained.

These promotions will be unlike those held in the past with not too much fanfare, but with a view to bringing about an instant solution to the current crisis, it was noted.

Within the next six months they hope to “condition the minds of the people” and ensure that tourists will be welcomed back on the island, Mr. Gajabahu said.

He also pointed out that the media needs to work together in a bid to bring the needed solutions since today the travellers have only been seeing the long queues and the May 9 incident.

But, Mr. Gajabahu pointed out that the Sri Lankans have a warm heart that showcases their hospitality and which can bring in the instant solution to generating revenues from the tourists.

He asserted that Sri Lanka must not allow for sensationalism to take over and ensure tourists have a comfortable stay and avoid any of the ugly incidents that they were subjected to in the past few months that went viral around the world about the problems encountered in a troubled island.

In the meantime, the authorities will also be bringing in solutions to the industry’s current energy and fuel issues although these were not detailed for the present.

Sri Lanka has been experiencing a continuous increase in arrivals upto March but since then when tourist numbers topped 106, 500 there has been a decline. In April arrivals were at 62, 980 and subsequently in May it reached only 30, 207.

Sri Lanka has been experiencing a continuous increase in arrivals upto March but since then when tourist numbers topped 106, 500 there has been a decline.

The highest numbers in May have been from Europe, where the country’s traditional markets lie recording a figure of 14,745 that takes a 48.8 per cent of the total arrivals share.

The reason for the decline has been mainly due to the political and economic unrest in Sri Lanka as a result of which most European destinations like the UK, Germany and

France slapped travel advisories against the country.

In the previous week Sri Lanka faced another crisis when a Aeroflot airline plane that landed in Colombo was grounded but this was speedily resolved. However the airline suspended its ticket sales and even by Friday there had not been any resumption. Aeroflot in May brought in 2 per cent of the tourist traffic to the country.