Diplomats visit Hambantota chamber, meet tourism stakeholders
View(s):French Ambassador, Christine Robichon, British High Commissioner John Rankin and the German Ambassador Dr. Jurgen Morhard, accompanied by their trade counselors recently visited the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) and also took the time to tour the harbour, International Convention Centre, airport development project and a large scale tourism development project in the Hambantota district.
French, British and German diplomats with officials in Hambantota
The HDCC arranged a meeting to exchange views and to provide background knowledge about HDCC, its activities and development projects taking place in the district. The aim of the diplomats’ visit was to witness the progress of the infrastructure projects, particularly those related to the tourism and transport services sectors, according to a HDCC media release.
The meeting was attended by HDCC President, M. Shaheed Usuph, Past President – T. Nadugala and Deep South Tourism Development Committee members – Suresh De Mel, S.J.L.K. Mannakkara, Priyankara Wickramasekara and representatives from Hotel Elephant Reach, Hotel Oasis, Palm Paradise Cabanas and Mandara Rosen Hotel.
Ms Robichon in her opening remarks noted that “we are particularly happy to have this opportunity to build a relationship with you because we welcome the development of the district and of the whole country, and particularly these important infrastructure projects, and also to get involved as partners. We are very eager to have contact with the private sector and to see both with the government sector and the private sector what are the opportunities in each district for our companies to increase the trade relations with this part of the country and also the investment opportunities in the tourism sector , and international transport by sea and air.”
HDCC CEO Krishanthi Weerasinghe in her presentation provided key insights into the business climate in the Hambantota district. Ms Weerasinghe said that work on the sea port and international airport had begun to make significant monetary contributions to the local economy. These and other planned developments will boost the socio-economy as well as ensure a rapid change in the business and economic environment.She also listed some of the emerging business opportunities which she said were ongoing and said that planned mega infrastructure development in the district had opened up opportunities for industries and support services such as health, communication, education, training, financial services and logistics.
She said Hambantota district is currently on the national and regional political and economic radar. Over the next 2-3 years billions of public investments are being made in the district. Many of these are focused on the tourism sector.
Krishanthi said there are two priority areas to improve the tourism sector in the district. There is a clear need for a range of skills development across the range of actors in the tourism sector. While the focused skills development is ongoing, it is also important that there is progress on the overall planning for tourism sector growth in the district. Tourism stakeholders highlighted the need for coordination among various public and private sector institutions, but also strongly supported the role of HDCC as convener and secretariat for this coordination.
During the discussion, Suresh De Mel, Director –HDCC highlighted that “the tourism industry in the district was primarily Small and Medium scale, and mostly informal. Due to its lack of organization this community is unable to provide quality services and to derive the proper benefits that the tourism industry affords them.”
Priyankara Wickramasekera, Managing Director of the Priyankara Hotel in Tissamaharama, said: “We need to arrange training facilities for members of the local community who are involved in tourism – and practical education is more beneficial to someone’s career than a certificate. On-the-job training helps people get the skills they need more effectively than through attending hotel schools.”
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