Only Three percent of tourists spend 30 percent of the money spent by all tourists in the world yet Sri Lanka is yet to benefit form this segment.
The Ministry is looking at improving the tourism sector with the support of every Sri Lankan that would care to extend their support.
“We have created a platform for every professional to come and collaborate to the tourism industry,” Michael said.
At the moment 120 volunteers has joined and the ministry says the responsibility lies in every citizen to uplift the industry.
The new advisory panel on niche tourism products consisting of volunteers is headed by Thilan Wijesinghe CEO of Forbes and Walker.
The council expects to set the administration and the ground situation to facilitate niche tourism and make it more convenient for first class tourists.
“We are advising on creating the enabling environment from the point at which the particular tourist gets down from the air port, immigration clearance to conveyance in getting the tourists to the respective destinations,” says Wijesinghe.
The council looks to improve transportation as well set minimum standards for boutique hotels which attracts the first class tourists.
The Ministry plans on improving the railway system and starting a domestic flight service as a solution for transport issues.
“One of the aspects that our market research shows is and the biggest single negative that niche tourists complain about is the ground transport, going by car or bus to the respective hotels.” Wijesinghe said.
“We will look at domestic air transportation and upgrading the current railway system which would give them a better experience.”
The ministry also has created two more councils for Ayurvedic tourism and Golf tourism to market Sri Lanka in those segments.
The Government also gave up their attempts to run the Ceylon Hotel Corporation as Galle Face Company recently purchased 35 percent of the corporation owning up to 70 percent of the shares.
The government made way for the Galle Face Company to take over the management by repealing the Hotel Corporation act on 21st of May 2007.
“I believe the private company would be able to run it profitably” George Michael the additional secretary to the Ministry of Tourism said.
“The government can not run business it was evident the way the corporation was run, in 2005 we couldn’t even pay the salaries of the workers.”
The Ceylon Hotel Corporation made a loss of 13.3 million rupees recording a turnover of 132.2 million in 2002.
I know a lot of german people (individual tourists) who stopped their intention to travel to Sri Lanka, because they are afraid.
Transportation: The only solution is to build the planned highway from airport to Matara, financed by toll. Other plans are unreasonable and wasted money.
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