Tourism team heads for WTM with ‘positive attitude’

Sri Lanka is sending a large delegation to the World Travel Mart which kicks off in London on November 6 with a ‘positive attitude’, hoping to win back lost gains in tourism now that the peace talks have resumed.

According to Rajan Brito, Chairman of Aitken Spence, around 50 companies will be participating with well over a 100 representatives. "We are going with a positive attitude," Hiran Cooray, Chairman of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels told The Sunday Times FT. "We met with the Minister of Tourism, Anura Bandaranaike last Thursday and the industry as well as the association requested the Minister to come."

Cooray said meetings between the two associations and the Minister were ongoing with Bandaranaike having given them assurances that he would speak with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on concerns and requests made by the associations. It was reported that the Minister had refused to make any statements regarding the safety of tourism in Sri Lanka, as requested by the associations, saying his conscience would not allow him to make such statements. Cooray vehemently dismissed this saying the Minister was only asked to talk about the facts. "One thing we can say is that the LTTE has not so far targeted tourists in this country. However, no one can give guarantees to anyone on the safety of people in different countries."

This sentiment was echoed by Udaya Nanayakkara, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. "No responsible government can tell tourists they are safe to come to any country," he said. When asked if the tourism industry has been affected by the recent violence and political instability, Nanayakkara said there hasn’t been any adverse effects but will certainly have some impact. "When travel advisories are put forth by countries, it does have an effect. So far in the United Kingdom, there are none."

Abbas Esufally, Group Director of Hemtours Ltd told The Sunday Times FT from London, where is now, that, “Obviously with the escalation of violence in the country, the international press has played it up. However, the attacks have been confined to military targets," he said.

Esufally added that the press has been talking about Sri Lanka being safe for tourism and tour operators are continuing to serve the country. "This indicates a continuing support of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka." Brito also added that with the exception of Australia and France who have issued warnings, other countries have not followed suit.

On Minister Bandaranaike’s alleged refusal to make statements on the safety of tourism in the country, Esufally said that even though he was not present, he doubts it completely. "Two of my colleagues were present. I have a report of the meeting and didn't find it anywhere. These have been positive meetings and I cannot believe those comments were made even though I wasn't there," he said. Brito said the Minister has been very helpful in trying to get the travel advisories lifted.

Cooray and Esufally were commenting on reports in weekend newspapers including The Sunday Times where Bandaranaike was quoted as saying at his first break-through meeting with the industry and a subsequent seminar in Bentota that it would be difficult for him to say Sri Lanka is safe for travel for tourists. The two main industry associations which have been complaining to the media repeatedly in the past about the inability to meet Bandaranaike for many months have patched up their differences. On Tuesday, Bandaranaike – in a media statement that was however not received by The Sunday Times – denied comments attributed to him. “I was merely thinking aloud and speculating as to how to invite tourists in contra to the strong travel advisories. Some of the remarks I made have been taken out of context,” he said.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two political parties last week was also hailed as a long-awaited and welcome move for all involved in the tourism industry. "We hope it is not a mere signing of the MoU that will go into action. The UNP's prime focus is the northeast crisis. Killings on both sides have to stop in order for economic development to take place," said Cooray. "It is certainly a very refreshing move by responsible political parties to bring more stability to the country and through this stability, tourism will be benefited," said Nanayakkara.

According to Esufally, the two national parties coming together is an excellent sign and shows that they are putting the needs of the country above their own. Brito said that even though tourism has been affected, good news is around the corner with the signing of the MoU and the peace talks. "The most important are the peace talks," he said. Cooray added that the tourism industry is the most resilient. "For 24 years, we have struggled along and we will continue the struggle until we are on a level playing field."