Crisis Management Plan for tourism
by Anjana Gamage
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. |