Business Rendez-vous

Explosions cannot dampen spirit of tourism - Afghar Mohideen

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The present cycle of explosions have not dampened the spirit of the industry.

There is no significant impact on tourist arrivals Managing Director and Chairman United Holidays Afghar Mohideen said.

A former President of the Travel Agent’s Association of Sri Lanka he said violent explosions do not happen only in countries like Sri Lanka. It’s happening all over the world including the US and UK.

“What the tourists now look for is their safety. And as far as Sri Lanka is concerned not a single tourist, tourist hotel or a vehicle carrying tourists has been affected,” he said.

Formerly associated with the John Keells Group of Companies as Managing Director of Walkers Tours, Keells Hotels and Keells Transportation Ltd and STA World Travels Lanka Ltd he said countries such as Egypt, Indonesia (Bali) where tourists were specifically targeted too have returned to normal.

Starting his business small with 14 employees United Holidays today is known all over the world. “I think I was the first customer at the World Trade Centre and when I was doing business they were still building part of the WTC,” he said.

Established in 1995, United Holidays is a leading destination management and airline General Sales Agent in Sri Lanka. With the rapid expansion and diversification of the company in the past few years, United Ventures (Private) Limited was created in 2006 as a holding company.

A veteran in the travel industry his company is today diversifying into outbound tourism and medical tourism. United Holidays have also promoting Cultural exchange programmes and is the only local company to issue international student identity cards used to obtain discounts in 116 countries.

“We are also looking at affiliating with prestigious international universities soon,” he said.

United Holidays currently represent a range of leading tour operators from generating global markets such as the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, India, Japan, and China.

The volume of business generated and the positive annual growth since its inception, allows United Holidays to command a strong buying power among independent hotels and hotel chains alike.

Q: What is so special about medical tourism?

We are not offering a simple health package but a door to door package where a surgeon would see the patient in UK and then come to Sri Lanka to perform surgery. Subsequently the same surgeon would look after the patient back in UK. This is very successful as it is a huge ‘cost saver’ for the patient.

We will soon introduce this package to other European countries as well.

Q: Cultural exchange programmes are something new to the private sector?

This is an area with tremendous potential. One may be surprised to note that it’s a US$ 20 billion industry. South America, Australia and South Africa are very much involved in this programme. With Sri Lankan hospitality which we can be proud of, cultural exchange tourism can be a huge forex earner to Sri Lanka as well.

Go Holidays, a subsidiary of United Holidays has already tied up with STA travels of UK for this programme and they are into the Youth Hostel business as well.

Q: How do you see the education opportunities available for Sri Lankans in the leisure sector?

I think this is a grey area for the country. The present generation is mostly attending hotel schools with the intension of gaining quick employment. When they gain experience they try to find overseas jobs.

For them higher education is not very important. I think if there are private educational institutions which could offer degrees for the travel industry there would be many who would be keen to follow them.

Q: What do you think of the minimum rate introduced to the City Hotels?

A:I think this is a step taken in the right direction. It would help to increase revenue to the hotels and would also help the employees to have a higher service charge. After the implementation of the scheme I have seen a 15 percent increase in the rates and this is encouraging.

However I still think that we can sell our hotels at a higher price. I think this concept should be also introduced to the local resorts as well.

Q: Being the tourism consultant for Air Lanka do you think if a Sri Lankan airline is managed locally would it be a disadvantage in any way?

Certainly not. Sri Lanka has highly qualified and motivated people who could drive the airline to success. The tourists would not mind who is managing the airline and hence would not have any negative impact for the trade.

Q: What are the future plans of United Holidays?

We are looking at consolidating our business and are planning to open branch offices in UK and India soon.

We are also looking at luxury tourists and also to strengthen the outward bound arm. United Holidays hopes to continue its growth in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka as an innovative Destination Management Company.

Q: Where would you like to spend your holiday?

I like the Cultural Triangle as I like history. If it’s overseas I prefer to be in London.