Minimum room rate concept should be introduced in other regions too

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

There have been no travel advisories imposed against Sri Lanka’ said Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman, Renton de Alwis.

Replying to questions posed by the Daily News Business he said that some countries have requested their citizens to avoid travelling to certain areas in Sri Lanka where there is a conflict.

“This is nothing new,” he said.

De Alwis said that violence is something happening all over the world and travellers are used to it. In Sri Lanka tourists have not been targeted unlike in Bali Indoneisa or Eygypt.

Despite terror attacks specifically targeted at Tourists, visitor’s keep on retuning to these destinations in large number. The death toll in these incidents too was high.

Alwis said that violence in Sri Lanka is now confined to the North while there are isolated incidents.

Q) How do you react to these?

A) Stakeholders and especially the media should be more responsible when reporting these news items. I wish to say that there has been no such travel bans against Sri Lanka imposed by any country.

Q) How do you see the future of tourism in Sri Lanka?

A) Its very positive and would be definitely better than last year. Tourist arrivals grew in December than November growth of 20% recording a 55.8% increase.

January too would be better than the corresponding period. There are more Bhora visitors with the second visit of Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb, the spiritual leader of the International Dawoodi Bohra Community for the Ashara Mubaraka ceremony.

Following their spiritual leader, over 30,000 visitors have arrived in Colombo.

Q) What plans do you have for the ITB starting next March in Berlin?

A) We are ready to go all out to make this event a success like the last WTM in London. The interest shown by the stakeholders too are very encouraging.

Q) How do you see the minimum room rate working?

A) This is a very good move that should be introduced to other regions too. The minimum room rate would also help to assist to increase yields which is important for the industry.

It would also increase service charges for employees.

Q) How do you see

the ‘Earth Lung’ project working

in Sri Lanka?

A) We want to make Sri Lanka a carbon free nation in 10 years time.

I am happy that the private sector and the NGOs too are playing a major part in this regard.

JEEP will take Sri Lanka Tourism Earth Lung initiative forward with Jetwing Group’s latest contribution to the environment.

A 100 acre land in Kandy belonging to Jetwing Hunas Falls has been allocated and the first phase of the project commenced last week on a selected area.