Hotel Show catalyst for tourism innovation- Gunarathna

M F Jabir

Hotel Show 2013 could act as a catalyst to boost innovation in the tourist industry, said Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Bhashwara Gunarathna addressing the press briefing held at Monara Lounge Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management on Wednesday.

The Hotel Show 2013 is scheduled to be held during July 26 to 28 at BMICH Colombo. Gunarathna said, "Our target of reaching 2.5 million tourist arrivals, 250,000 direct employment, 350,000 indirect employment Rs 2.7 billion tourism revenue by 2016, provides evidence to concrete targets that we have set for our tourism industry. Our expectations are high and accordingly, we are adopting our strategy. In fact to suit our high expectations there is a demand in need to develop our strategy. We have identified a particular strategy to arrive at our targets. They are based on realities and potentials of the global tourism industry. That is the reason that we are keen in joint promotions with other state and private organisations rather than isolated independent promotions what we had in the recent past.

He said that was the reason why promotions were done aiming countries such as China, India, Russia and Korea and said they had identified strategies not only for tourism promotion but to improve tourism products.

Gunarathna said that there were many things to do within the industry. "We are emphasising on standards in the hotel industry but I believe similar emphasis should be given for innovation within the industry and this hotel show contributes immensely in this aspect.

This hotel show has become the platform for dissemination of knowledge, information as well for quality and standards. And I strongly believe it would also become a dialogue forum for innovation in the industry," he added.