Cabinet delays tourism PR campaign
Delays at the Cabinet to approve a publicity campaign to get the tourism industry back on track have irked an industry that has fewer tourists to welcome as they believe the authorities may have not got their priorities right for a resurgence of the economy.
Stakeholders of the tourism industry representing the private sector had a joint meeting at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on Thursday where key issues were discussed highlighting the need to get the travel advisories removed or softened in order to encourage visitors to holiday in Sri Lanka.
The delay of more than two weeks in Cabinet approval for the campaign has left the tourism industry wondering whether the government has failed to understand where their priorities lie in reviving the economy. The City Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar detailed some of the concerns raised at the meeting.
Some of the key issues discussed were the soft loans, moratorium on the loans, and the moratorium for staff loans.
In addition the matter of travel advisories was raised where it was pointed out that members of the different sectors of the industry had met the ambassadors in Colombo where the mission heads had indicated that no positive statement from the head of state was the key reason for the delay in softening the travel advisories to Sri Lanka.
Foreign missions in Colombo have also indicated that once the schools return to normal there would be a relaxing of the travel ban to the country. With the travel ban and warnings against travel to Sri Lanka in place from some of the country’s key markets like India and China have left the island nation without visitors. Therefore the industry believed that it was left to them to lobby with the authorities to make a positive statement and to have the travel advisories removed as soon as possible. Devendre Senaratne, former head of a local industry body, said that though the country is safe according to the three armed forces “we need this to be seen from especially the European ambassadors” in order to soften the advisories.
Also the industry needs the promotions to be carried out for a faster recovery and if this is carried out immediately by November the industry could return to normal. The statements already released by the President and Prime Minister were said to have been individual statements and not a collective one. Moreover, with tourism being the burning issue authorities urgently need to address the concerns impeding business in this sector. In addition the suspension of travel insurance to Sri Lanka has caused a serious concern and the possibility of providing travellers with local insurance policies was not workable and no decision made on that as yet.
The industry believes that all talk would lead them nowhere if the PR campaign did not receive the necessary approval from Cabinet, Mr. Shanthikumar said.
But this has not even been placed or discussed at the last cabinet meeting it was noted and it is believed the until this gains approval nothing could get moving.
Travel Agents chief Trevor Rajaratnam explained that airlines that have already reduced frequencies is a growing concern as these aircraft would be re-routed to other destinations and it will be a challenge to get them flying back to Colombo.
In addition, he pointed out that airlines were also in need of support right now with relief provided on catering, fuel, parking and ground handling as these costs were considerably higher compared to other South Asian destinations.
Meanwhile, discussions were also held on Friday with the airline representatives on the tactical promotion to be carried with airlines, hotels and tour operators to lure visitors to the country.