PATA AGM here, boost to local tourism

By Tharindri Rupesinghe

With Sri Lanka Tourism geared up to take on the delegates of the Pacific Asia Trade Association by hosting its AGM and the Board of Director’s meeting this weekend, Chairman of the local PATA chapter, Afghar Mohideen says that the international organization coming down to the island will have an extremely positive effect on the local camp. Of the 150 directors, 139 will be attending, the highest number of members to make it to a Director’s meeting.

“The PATA board of directors is made of very, very senior officials in the travel airline industry, and for all of them to come here, it’s very big achievement for us in Sri Lanka,” he said.Speaking about the issues that will be taken up at the discussion, he said that as he is not a member of the Board, he is not privy to the information , but said that it is expected that issues regarding problems in the tourism and travel trade will be covered. It is hoped that issues like the climate change-related changes in tourism and travel advisories and their removal will be brought up. The directors will be broadly speaking on the region in general, although the Chairman says that as the event is hosted in Sri Lanka, special focus will be centered on the country.

PATA has been very forceful on the Sustainable Tourism front, one on which Sri Lanka has been contributing to through the ‘Earth Lung’ initiative that was launched recently. The purpose of the venture is to cut down on carbon emissions locally. Mohideen says that the prospect looks promising for Sri Lanka.

For Sri Lanka to be able to host the event amidst the gargantuan negative publicity generated via the conflict, shows that Sri Lanka is among the safest destinations for tourists, he said. “We’re the only country in which no tourist has been harmed by the terrorists,” he said, adding that the armed presence in the capital and its outskirts should only make tourists feel more secure, not give them the sense of living in a war zone. The PATA officials, he said are too well-versed in the trade to be led by negative publicity, he said. “Word of mouth publicity is very valuable. When they say they have been to Sri Lanka, it is a very good promotional exercise for us, you cannot measure it in terms of money,” he said. He also says that the new plans by the tourism officials to enhance the image of the country, such as the Strategic Tourism Marketing Plan will bear fruit but that it is still very much in the initial stages. “Give it some time for the real effects to bloom,” he said. Mohideen saw the local media’s portrayal of Sri Lanka as a nation of “cannibals” as one of the major barriers faced by tourism, saying that it was killing the industry. “There are some concerns, I won’t say no, but it’s not as bad as its made out to be,” he said, speaking of the view held by the Asia Pacific region regarding Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is one of the most senior members of PATA, having gained its membership in 1962, after PATA started off in 1951. 72 organizations including some of the top travel agents, airlines and hotels are in the chapter and along with Tourism authorities will be at the AGM and the associated discussions. According to the Chairman, PATA does not do any direct promotion of the countries as tourist destinations, but over the years the two parties have been working closely together and that currently PATA holds professional courses in Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka is an active member, and we’re a vital part of PATA”, he said.