Daily News Online

DateLine Friday, 9 May 2008

News Bar »

News: Four Tiger suspects charged in UK ...        Political: Eastern Province primed for PC Poll ...       Business: Hambantota hotels face closure ...        Sports: Asha, Mithali shine for India again ...

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | PICTURE GALLERY  | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Hambantota hotels face closure

Association blames Tourist Board of neglecting small timers:

Although tourist hotels in the Hambantota district have been refurbished and are fully operational after the tsunami, hoteliers lament that tourism authorities have not taken action to market the region.

Many hoteliers in the area are facing difficulties as they do not have sufficient tourist arrivals and many hotels in the district are facing closure due to the lack of business.

The Tangalle Tourism Association accused the Tourist Board of giving promotion to the big and established hotels and not small hotels in the Hambantota and Tangalle areas.

"There are 400 rooms available in the area but not even 10 per cent of it is occupied. Before the tsunami we had tourist arrivals of more than 50 per cent even though it was off season in other countries, President of Tangalle Tourism Association K. Wedaarachchi told the Daily News Business.

"Even though we were given compensation with a one year interest free loan we are unable to pay them as we do not have sufficient business. And if we do not pay them it will be owned by the banks which we do not want to happen," he said.

"Our hotels are not being advertised abroad. The Tourist Board goes on international tourism trade fairs, like the World Travel Market (WTM), ITB Berlin and the Arabian Travel Mart. But the Board does not represent all tourist destinations in Sri Lanka.


 The Yala Park invites locals once again

Only the famous and big hotels are being introduced and marketed in them". "Our hotels are also Tourist Board approved, but we do not get help from the Tourist Board Wedaarachchi, said. There are many locals who have not visited this area and seen the beauty of Sri Lanka. We would be happy if locals are encouraged to visit our hotels to help us to overcome this situation.

"People in the district find it difficult to get on with their day to day lives as they all depend on tourist arrivals," he said.

Although Yala was under threat tourists arrive to the Yala National Park. However locals are reluctant to visit the park. This is again mainly because of the misleading information that has been spread throughout Sri Lanka.

More than 50 tourists visit Yala National Park daily and the Park earns around Rs. 1.5 million per day from this, sources said.

"We have planned many projects to promote the Hambantota district, as we have less tourist arrivals in the area. Even Sri Lankans do not visit Hambantota. I would say it's mainly because of the false rumours spread around Sri Lanka.

Hambantota is a safe place to have a holiday, Director General of Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce Azmi Thassim said. He said they are the first Chamber to promote the district around Sri Lanka.

We have already promoted a concept as "Deep South" to promote the Hambantota district. We plan to promote 12 destinations in Hambantota. We have also invited all other stakeholders in the area to promote Hambantota as a destination.

"In future we are planning to promote more destinations, so that we can attract more tourists into Hambantota for hoteliers in the district to gain more business, Thassim said.

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
Ceylinco Banyan Villas
www.defence.lk
www.helpheroes.lk/
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk
www.news.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2006 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor