Bid to make Lanka hub in S. Asia for tourism education

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Louis Preston Sri Lanka which is the first and only centre authorized to conduct the internationally recognized IATA-UFTAA Diplomas in Travel and Tourism at both foundation and consultant level in Sri Lanka is to create a Tourism Training hub in Sri Lanka to serve South Asia.

Director of Studies Peter Hooper said that Louis Preston has been in operation for the last four years in Sri Lanka and doing very well.

He said that Sri Lankan students who followed the course in Singapore before they set up in Sri Lanka paid Rs. 15 lakhs earlier but today they have the opportunity to do the same in Sri Lanka for only Rs. 8 lakhs he said. .

Ministry of Tourism supported a lot to set up the institute and the students have done very well and there is a huge potential in Sri Lanka for tourism education he said.

He pointed out that the travel and tourism industry is among the world’s largest and currently employing more than 200 million.

The minimum qualification required to follow this course is O level results satisfactory with English and Maths subjects. Examnations are held in March and September a very year but some students complete the course within six months.

After one year they can go for employment where they can recover the investment during the first month he said. There is a huge demand for our graduates he said.

Preston has trained 130 students during the last four years and most of them are abroad.

Asked about his views about Sri Lanka he said that bad PR has damaged the country’s image.

I don’t feel that living in Sri Lanka is risky and it is why I left Singapore and came here. I invite my friends even now.

I have no plans to leave Sri Lanka until my retirement age he said.