Northern Lights to blink again
This year’s Tourism Day is extensively dedicated to the tourism entrepreneurs who struggle to search for new avenues for them to grow. Those entrepreneurs will eventually become successful business giants in future, said Stanly Macarenes, Chairman of Northern Tourism Bureau delivering the welcome address at the official launch of the community- based destination marketing campaign in collaboration with the World Tourism Day in the Northern Province. The event was held at the Tilco City Hotel in Jaffna last week.
He said the tourism industry of Sri Lanka was traditionally seen as a sector comprising hoteliers and travel companies, although studies bring an important message to look at its value chain with a holistic eye.
Mr. Macarenes further explained that creation and facilitation of sustainable development platforms is the responsibility of the Northern Tourism Bureau. It has taken steps to work collectively with the Department of Cooperatives to drive this Cooperative Tourism Initiative. He requested SANASA International the local implementer of the project to support in steering this concept with their strong network of people.
Meanwhile the destination marketing programme for the Northern Province developed under the EFCS project was officially launched by the Governor of the Northern Province Ms. P.S.M. Charles as the guest of honour. She said the domestic tourism initiative was important as it can be promoted among Sri Lankans living in other districts and even among Sri Lankans living abroadas well. An opportunity will be given to all Sri Lankans to discover the inexperienced beauty of the Northern Province. She further said that looking ahead “they need to deal with challenges of the future with the cooperatives, private and public sectors to transform themselves by using new technology that I will support.”
Meanwhile as a pilot project EFEC has developed five strategic plans with community based tourism routes in all five districts in the Northern Province. P. Vageshan, Commissioner of Department of Cooperative Development in the Northern Province, stressed the importance of linking everyone in the path of tourism by creating a niche product. Ms. Samadani Kiriwandeniya, Managing Director of Sanasa Development Bank said that that Northern Tourism is lucky to be the one and only pilot ongoing project with EFECS tourism value chain.
The EFECS Project in collaboration with the Northern Tourism Bureau with assistance from Korea Lanka School of Hospitality and Hotel Management was able to train 100 employees of Small and Medium Hotels affected by COVID-19 on preparedness guidelines. The objective of this training was to prepare the Small and Medium Sector hotels and restaurants with the best safety measures to welcome local and international guests for future.