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Crisis Management Plan for tourism

Drawing on its recent tsunami experiences, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) has formed a crisis unit and created a Crisis Management Plan that the country's tourism industry could deal with all types of disasters in the future.

The new plan prepared with the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) was launched last Friday evening at the Committee Room of the SLTB with the participation of Co-ordinating Officer Emergency Tsunami Task Force Unit- UNWTO, Omar Nawaz, WTO Crisis Communication Expert , Deborah Luhrman, SLTB Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara and the Director General of the SLTB S. Kalaiselvam.

"Tourism is such a sensitive sector that crisis management has become an important part of the industry in every country of the world. We are preparing for the worst but at the same time praying that the plan will never be needed", said the SLTB Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara addressing the press conference.

He also said that a quick and professional response would assist to limit the drop off in tourism following a crisis and helps the sector to recover faster than expected saving jobs and revenues as well. The new plan prepared with the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), aims to improve safety for tourists and create a structure for responding rapidly if problems do occur.

The goal is to keep the travel industry and potential tourists informed about the real crisis situation, assistance being given to victims and what is being done to end the crisis.

In the event of a crisis, the plan calls for consultations with stakeholders such as that which took place immediately following the tsunami. The industry would be expected to pull together to help communicate with foreign markets in one voice and carry out joint recovery marketing activities such as promotions and special events.

Meanwhile Omar Nawaz, the Coordinating Officer Emergency Tsunami Task Force Unit of the WTO, pointed out the Phuket Action Plan launched in Thailand after the tsunami tragedy assisted a lot during the crisis situation in the South Asian earthquake in Pakistan as well.

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