Musthapha calls for new methods to overcome tourism industry impasse

Rasika Somarathna

KANDY: Deputy Tourism Minister Faizer Musthapha called on for novel and innovative methods to overcome the impasse in the tourism industry while initiating several programmes in Kandy to promote tourism and employment to youth.

The Minister who met guide lecturers, Hotel School staff, Kandy Hoteliers' Association, tourism informal sector and registered guest house/Restaurant owners took immediate steps to address their grievances and asked them to come forward with innovative ideas to uplift the industry.

Addressing the Tourism informal sector, the Minister emphasised the need to absorb the informal sector into the formal sector including it in the mainstream to ensure a better service and quality.

The Minister also took steps to address the grievances of site guides while taking steps to address their long felt need for viable office space to expedite their work.

The Ministry is also planning to launch a training programme so that the guides are informed not only of factual and detailed information of their immediate environs but also of other main attractions in the country, the Deputy Minister said.

Addressing the problems faced by the Kandy Hoteliers' Association, the Deputy Minister urged them to come up with novel ideas to promote tourism and said his Ministry would take steps to fully back these ideas.

The Deputy Minister asked hoteliers to come up with ideas to promote Kandy as a viable tourist attraction specially considering the forthcoming Perehera season.

The Minister vowed that he would make Kandy a happening place during the festive season with many programmes to attract both local and foreign tourists.