Staff shortage at Sri Lankan hotels
Hoteliers in Sri Lanka that were compelled to watch as the trained workforce on their staff leave for better options overseas amidst a homegrown economic crisis, are today faced with a huge burden on training new recruits as they expect a good season in winter later this year. At least 10 per cent of staff at each hotel is likely to have left.
Hotel staff left the shores to find better paying jobs as their incomes dwindled when tourist arrivals dropped when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and the economic crisis hit the country and only a few are seen trickling back to the country that is yet to witness a surge in arrivals compared to 2018.
Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar said that the turnover is very high and it is difficult to retain and recruit staff adding that today the hotels are facing a huge issue with reduction in the workforce.
He noted that human resources has become a big challenge today, adding that however, some hoteliers are trying to manage the situation.
Mr. Shanthikumar explained that the upcoming winter season should be better than the summer and the industry should be able to generate an increased number of arrivals this year.
THASL Past President and Mount Lavinia Hotel Chairman Sanath Ukwatte told the Business Times the main reason for the reduction in the workforce is due to the lack of adequate global promotions to attract increased arrivals to the country.
The main cause is a lack of destination marketing as a result of which there is a drop in arrivals and contributing to more staff leaving for greener pastures since we cannot increase salaries of workers.
At least 10 per cent of the revenue is service charge for the staff, he said adding that Sri Lanka is unable to match the service levels in the Maldives and Dubai as a result of which workers are leaving for overseas jobs. Hoteliers need better rates and higher revenues to increase salaries of workers, he explained.
Tourists are yet to change their perception about Sri Lanka as they still think the land is lacking in food so “unless we address these issues we will get just the US$10 Russian tourists, a majority of whom are finding accommodation in home stays and guest houses.”
Mr. Ukwatte noted that seasonal employees or those recruited for particular seasons can be employed during the winter and others picked out from the hotel schools and trained. Re-training employees and recruiting new ones is time consuming, he explained.
Now winter is looking good, he said adding that airlines too have increased flights to Colombo although airfares are likely to continue to remain high.
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