Campaign to promote 'Youth Tourism'

by Anjana Gamage

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) has decided to recruit young blood to the local tourism sector with the aim of injecting new dynamism and growth to the industry, the Daily News learns.

The SLTB has now launched an active campaign to promote "Youth Tourism" by setting up 'school travel clubs' islandwide.

The ultimate aim of this program is to promote and facilitate "Youth Tourism" in Sri Lanka. The SLTB is eager to encourage youth to appreciate the value of the country's cultural and natural heritage and also to foster friendship among school children in different parts of the country.

"The SLTB is also keen on imparting knowledge on tourism and related benefits and developing attitudes in prospective aspirants for careers in tourism as well," SLTB Director-Human Resource Development said.

According to him, tourism is recognised as a socio-cultural medium for intra and international communication which provides young travellers with recreation and educational opportunities.

"Youth Tourism", therefore has become an important factor in the global tourism industry which shares nearly 20 per cent of international tourist arrivals making every fifth international arrival a youth.

To go ahead with the "Youth Tourism" program, the SLTB has set up several School Travel Clubs in different parts of the country and most schools have responded positively in forming these clubs, Pathirana said.

The aim of the School Travel Club program is to motivate students to travel on a theme 'Travel to Learn, Learn to Travel'. The program provides opportunities not only to travel but also to acquire a wide knowledge on tourism and its activities as well.

The program will be useful for the students to foster friendship and understanding among the students of different areas in the country and other countries too, Pathirana pointed out.

The SLTB is also expected to achieve many objectives through these School Travel Clubs, such as developing and appreciating the cultural and natural heritage of Sri Lanka and other countries, foster friendship and understanding among the students of different areas and countries by playing host to visiting guests of schools or youth organisations from other areas in Sri Lanka and other countries, imparting knowledge of tourism, its benefits and potential adverse effects, organise educational trips to places of cultural and natural attractions and explore the new places of tourist interest around the areas where the School Travel Club is formed.