Create unique products from tourist attractions - Hemas Chairman

Eighty percent in rural areas:

Harshini PERERA Hemas Group Chairman Lalith de Mel said.

Chairman Lalith de Mel

Speaking at a seminar held on ‘Making Sri Lanka a top tourist destination’, he said creating the infrastructure facilities such as rooms for the expected tourists will be a challenge for Sri Lanka.

“We need to cater them with 24,000 to 40,000 rooms to which many local and foreign investment is needed,” he said.

“Every investor regardless of the investment expects to get a fair pay back. Their confidence as well as the commitment shown by the Government will make a vibrant tourism industry in Sri Lanka,” de Mel said. “The emotional commitment of the Government does not matter in the development of tourism. Sun and sand is available everywhere and Sri Lanka needs to create unique products out of the common.”

“Building highways takes a long time. Tourism industry cannot wait until the completion of these development projects. The industry can take new avenues such as collaborating with railways to promote tourist attractions. The geographical location of many tourist attractions is connected to the railway lines,” Lalith de Mel said. Sri Lanka needs to concentrate on recasting the bureaucracy as well as some of the legislation to ease the laying of infrastructure process for investors. Before investors embark on the market, Sri Lanka should think about the availability of human resources.

The Chairman said some of the softer issues such as cleanliness and accelerated service at the airport should be considered.

“There should be institutionalized and collaborative activities between the Government and the private sector in building up the private sector initiative to strengthen the investments,” he said.