Standards for tourism industry

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Boom in tourist arrivals

The Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Development Authority has initiated action to set standards in every segment of the industry. Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka President Anura Lokuhetti told Daily News Business.

He said there are different kinds of standards such as five star, boutique hotels, guest houses depending on various niche markets.

"Therefore it is necessary to identify and set suitable guidelines to suit such niche markets to meet the global competitiveness," he said. As tourists know the global standards it is bad for country's image if they do not get the same when they visit Sri Lanka.

"Therefore all stakeholders got together and discussed different guidelines to such niche markets. It will be gazetted in the near future and will be implemented thereafter," he said.

According to new standards the tour operators, hotels, and hoteliers, transport airlines and tour guides and all the ancillary services will be brought under strict supervision.

They will be given very specific standards similar to SLS standards.