Sri Lanka to attract more Russians, Europeans for winter
View(s):The newly appointed Tourism Advisory Board held an emergency meeting at the Tourism Ministry this week to discuss the opportunities available in Russia as a result of the halting of flights to Middle Eastern destinations and the security crisis gripping Europe, a media release issued by the ministry stated.Tourism Minister John Amaratunga who acted quickly to seize the marketing opportunities for Sri Lanka sought the views of the industry leaders on how best to take advantage of the situation and attract the Russian and European tourists to the country, the release said.
The Ministry together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has already drawn up plans to carry out an extensive destination marketing campaign in Russia early next year including one to one meetings with key travel agents and industry representatives in Russia, the statement said.The Board Members pointed out that all Russian charter flights already booked for the winter season to Middle Eastern destinations have been cancelled.The release noted that the Board decided to look into the possibility of re-routing these flights to Sri Lanka during the winter season.
The emergency meeting in progress. L to R: Advisory Board Members Udaya Nanayakkara, Ajit Gunewardene, Shiromal Cooray, SLTDA Chairman Paddy Withana, Ministry Secretary P.H.J.B. Sugathadasa, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga and Advisory Board Chairman Harry Jayawardena. Board Members Abbas Esufally, Prema Cooray, Sunil Dissanayake and Advisor to the Ministry of Economic Policy Dinesh Weerakkody were also present.
A sub committee headed by Shiromal Cooray was appointed to look into this and also formulate a short term promotional plan for these special markets, it was noted.Meanwhile, the travel and tourism industry leaders who make up the Tourism Advisory Board expressed serious concern on the budget proposal to cut funding to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board and the SLTDA.It was pointed out that the abolition of the Tourism Development Levy (TDL) and withdrawal of the embarkation tax contribution to these two institutions would adversely affect the industry just when it was in need of a boost, the release said.
Minister John Amaratunga assured the Advisory Board that there were adequate funds to carry out the planned promotional campaigns for 2016 and if at all an issue will crop up only in 2017.He said he will convey the industry concerns to the Ministry of Economic Policy, which he said was working on an amalgamated national promotional strategy encompassing sectors such as the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, the Tea Board, Gem and Jewellery Authority etc.The Advisory Board requested the Minister to brief them on the national strategy so that they could configure the tourism promotional strategy accordingly, the release said.
It was also revealed that the SLTDA has commenced registration of the informal sector, the media release said.SLTDA Chairman Paddy Withana said, soon an online registration system will be introduced to simplify the process. He said satellite hotel school lecturers will be utilized to carry out site inspections of online registered properties across the island to fast track the process.