'Media play vital role in promoting tourism'
Media play a vital and important role in promoting tourism, not only
within the SAARC region but throughout the world as well. Destinations
are made known to tourists before they set off and known destinations
are popularized among tourists by the media, Mass Media and Information
Ministry Secretary W B Ganegala said.
Ganegala was making the welcome speech at the SAARC seminar on 'The
role of media in promoting tourism for enhancing people to people
contact' at the Gateway Hotel Airport Garden, Seeduwa on November 13.
The speech:
At the last Governing Board meeting of SAARC Information Centre held
in Katmandu on December 2 and 3, 2010 it was decided that a seminar on
'Role of Media in promoting tourism for enhancing people to people
contact' be held in Colombo this year.
"We, the Ministry of Mass Media and Information and Sri Lanka Tourism
are thankful to the SAARC Information Centre for this decision and for
all other follow-up activities accomplished to organize the same in
liaison with the Sri Lankan authorities.
"I am happy to state that this decision and thus making it a reality
coincide with the multifaceted Sri Lanka Tourism Drive launched under
the Mahinda Chintana integrated national development plan. It is also
appropriate to have this seminar in Colombo at a time when the
government had declared the year 2011 as the Tourism Year of Sri Lanka.
In addition, all these events go hand in hand with the government's
initiative to offer the Asian region and the world at large, the city of
Colombo including few provincial capitals as centres of excellence to
conduct regional and international seminars, conferences and workshops.
With this background, I suppose, it is most appropriate and advantageous
to organize this seminar in Colombo this year.
"Communication network has become more efficient and informative with
the use of the internet and such sophisticated communication
technologies. Tools of modern media and communication are complex and
hence, I suppose the tourism industry faces a challenge to choose the
most appropriate and fastest methods and practices in promoting tourism.
"Media can promote tourism by projecting a destination and it can
also destroy a destination by negative publicity. It is only a matter of
understanding the intricacies of activities and local situations and
establishing an effective media programme. It is therefore, modern mass
media linked up with all new technologies market the products of tourism
in different potential markets.
"For the purpose of marketing tourism products publicity campaign
need to be organized on seasonal or most appropriately throughout the
year basis. Tourism promotion depend on the numerous pathways of modern
media for its sustainable development.
"Tourism is basically a peace time activity and, therefore, local
situation in politics, weather, social activities and peace at large are
important factors which affects the tourism development plans. However,
to maintain a tourist destination in the right perspective, the tourism
authorities need to be in close and continuous contact with the
different branches of media on a regular basis.
"To discuss such issues within the SAARC region this seminar would be
most effective for all the SAARC countries at this juncture.
"In this context we feel happy to have organized this meeting for the
mutual benefit of our countries. Ministers, I know how you rescheduled
your pre-arranged programmes lined up for today in your electorates,
hundreds of kms away from here.
"We along with our foreign distinguished participants and the
Director-General of SIC Lakshmi Billaj Koirala are privileged to have
your presence here today and on behalf of the Mass Media and Information
Ministry I respectfully welcome you to this seminar.
"Director-General / SIC Lakshmi Billaj Koirala, I can imagine how
much effort you have made to make this event a success during the last
few weeks. Without your assistance we would not have organized this in
Colombo.
"I cordially welcome you and the Senior Programme Manager Pankaj
Pandy as well for this occasion. Let me also warmly welcome all our
distinguished participants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal
for being with us to make this event a success.
"Our heads of institutions coming under the purview of the Mass Media
and Information Ministry and all other invitees, while warmly welcoming
you all for this occasion. |