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| Wednesday, 30 June 2004 |
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Bid to promote Lanka at international level: Laws soon to set up Tourism Development Council by Sudarshana Perera The Ministry of Industries, Tourism and Investment Promotion would bring in legislation in Parliament soon to enact the proposed Tourism Development Council and would set up the Tourism Promotional Authority to expedite the promotion of Sri Lanka aggressively at international level. The Council would be a private sector led venture and the initiative would lead to attract private sector investments and participation. At present a monetary grant by the Treasury is being utilised to promote Sri Lankan tourism in other countries. Secretary, Ministry of Industries, Tourism and Investment Promotion, Dr. Upananda Withanapathirana told the Daily News that new institutions would take a proactive and dynamic role to promote Sri Lanka as the finest destination in the world and the setting up of the Council was timely since the country faces competition despite the record arrivals. Dr. Withanapathirana said that the Tourist Board would act as a regulatory body for the Council and as this is a private sector led effort, the private sector involvement in marketing would do a great deal to expedite the marketing process. This would be a private and government sector collaboration and new vistas in tourism could be opened. "The role played by government sector institutions would be broadbased with these new institutions and steps would be taken to promote Sri Lanka in countries we have not approached so far", he said. Tourist Board sources said that government and private sector collaboration was a long-felt need and the initiative would lead to new horizons particularly for aggressive marketing. Commenting on the new Council, Small and Medium Hoteliers said that new bodies should take steps to attract their participation too in this private sector led endeavour and help them to thrive in business. Chairman of John Keells Holdings V. Lintotawela in his review on International Tourists and Hoteliers Limited pointed out the necessity to establish the Tourism Development Council and Tourism Promotional Authority on an urgent basis to promote the country aggressively, since Sri Lanka faces competition from many other destinations despite the record arrivals in the country. |
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