Business Travel

Follow Dubai to promote domestic tourism

Shirajiv SIRIMANE in UAE

Sri Lanka is yet to promote and utilise its natural recourse for tourism. The country should take a leaf from a country like Dubai to promote its domestic tourism.

The Jumeirah beach overlooking the worlds first seven star hotel, Burj al Arab is not only hectic in the morning but activities on the beach run till almost 4 a.m.

People rent out tents and beach chairs and come with families and linger till the wee hours of the morning. Couples are seen holding hands and walking in a well-behaved manner at night.

In contrast there is no place in Sri Lanka to relax at night. The only place for recreation the Galle Face Green is closed for security reasons and authorities are yet to provide an alternate palace.

Sri Lanka Tourism could play a bigger role to promote domestic tourism. The Tangalle Hotel Association too has highlighted this point and is high time that Sri Lanka Tourism looks at promoting domestic tourism.

It is interesting to find out as to how much are the budgetary allocations to promote domestic tourism.

During an interview to the Daily News Business, head of Phoenix Ad Agency, Erwin Weerakkody stated that plans are underway to promote domestic tourism.

In addition CEO, Ceylon Hotels Corporation, Anura Lokuhetty, too has said promoting domestic tourism not only gives revenue to hotels but also promotes the cottage industry.

Sri Lanka Tourism could do well to introduce the Jumeirah beach concept to the Negombo, the Golden Mile in Beruwela, Unawatuna and the Polhena Beach Matara.

The authorities should provide facilities as well as security and provide a better lighting system for persons to use the beach in the night. A combined effort with the Police and the Municipality is needed for this.

Under a programme launched by Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda foreign exposure was provided for Chief Ministers. It is now up to these Chief Ministers to get involved in opening up the beach and provide a return on the investment the country made for their overseas visits.

Dubai, known as a desert is now turning out to be one of the world’s fastest emerging maritime destinations. Over 50,000-plus new berths currently being added to Dubai’s impressive existing portfolio of marinas, waterside developments and harbours will position the emirate as the world’s preferred location for boating holidays and retreats overtaking established European and international destinations.

The Palm Trilogy and The World, Dubai is offering an experience that rivals the traditional European boating hubs of Mote Carlo, Cannes and St Tropez.

Meanwhile the recently concluded Arabian Travel Market 2008, which ran from the May 6-9 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre, organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions saw a record exhibitor base of 2,208 participants from 70 countries which is an eight percent increase on the 2007 edition.

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Ayurvedic Tourism to be promoted

The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine organised a workshop yesterday at the Auditorium of Sri Lanka Tourism to explore the possibility of working together to evolve a new concept ‘Ayurvedic Tourist’.

Ayurvedic Tourism seems to become a booming industry in the region. Large numbers of Westerners are growing disenchanted with the high cost of healthcare of their Allopathic system of medicine and its many side effects.

The growing emphasis the world over is now on natural/herbal and holistic methods of healing and the ancient science of Ayurveda, which fulfills all these requirements, is gaining widespread popularity.

The practice of indigenous medicine in the country which span for several millennia has now got a new lease of life due to growing global interest and both ministries have decided to set up a new framework of standards to increase the level of professionalism within the industry so as to better serve the more sophisticated foreign clientele.

A new committee has been set up by Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda with the task of setting standards and conducting workshops for Ayurvedic practioners and therapists to improve their professionalism and teach them how to deal with the tourist and the committee invited ancient science of Ayurveda and members of the tourism industry to discuses issues relevant to this important sector.

Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Tissa Karraliyadda Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, George Michael, Secretary, Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Asoka Malimage, sub committee chairman of Ayurvedic Tourism, Dr. Cooray Widasekara, and more than two hundred resource personnel participated at this workshop.

This new form of tourism is expected to produce a lot of jobs and earn more foreign exchange for the country said the Minister Tissa Karraliyadda in his keynote address at the opening session of the workshop.

“For the first time in the history of our Ministries working with a common agenda and it will help to uplift the ancient science of Ayurveda to join with the global needs,” the sub committee chairman of Ayurvedic Tourism, Dr. Cooray Widasekara, said.

He added that many local Ayurvedic physicians are used to an uncomplaining, unquestioning Sri Lankan clientele.

A few hotels in Sri Lanka cater almost exclusively to Ayurvedic tourists but demand is still seen to exceed supply and there is scope for a lot of expansion within the industry. A lot more people need to be trained as Ayurvedic physicians and therapists to cater to the demand.

The idea of this workshop is to collect the experience and create a new concept for Ayurvedic Tourism.

He said that many of them are seeking out Buddhist priests for amulets to still their mental flux and also look for centers to teach them yoga and meditation.

Dr. Cooray Widasekara said that this was an aspect that needed to be further developed within the country to cater to the demand.

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Minister Amunugama meets ADB Chairman in Madrid