Open skies? Proceed with caution, says trade
View(s):Sri Lanka wants an open skies policy to boost its tourism numbers as it targets 2.5 million arrivals in 2016 but aviation and travel experts are urging the Government to be cautious.
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake speaking at a ‘hospitality investment conference in the Indian Ocean’ in Colombo last Monday told delegates that Sri Lanka will adopt an open skies policy similar to what is happening in the Maldives.“We are opening out the economy to encourage foreign investments. Likewise we are adopting an open skies policies similar to the Maldives to attract more visitors and encourage more investments,” he said.
Although formally Sri Lanka doesn’t have an open skies policy, the tendency has been in recent times to allow more frequencies to foreign airlines. Sri Lanka’s national carrier, SriLankan Airlines accounts for more than 60 per cent of the inbound and outbound traffic.
A top CEO from a travel agency said this is a good move, would boost tourism and expand the business. However he was not sure whether it would work if there are no reciprocal arrangements for the national carrier flying to other destinations.
Open skies is an internally accepted aviation convention which comprises of nine ‘freedoms’ of air traffic rights and airlines travelling to other destinations.
An aviation expert and current director of a travel firm noted that Sri Lanka needs to be cautious in opening out its skies, in the context of national priorities.
“While the 3th and 4th freedom which applies to point to point travel is okay, the 5th and 6th freedom has to be reciprocal, otherwise Sri Lanka could suffer,” he said, requesting anonymity.