Tourism industry wants more promos; confidence boosted
The tourism industry believes the peaceful election and a one-party government has renewed confidence in the business community in Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lankans showed maturity at the election and this has become an endorsement for the destination,” Aitken Spence Managing Director Travels Nalin Jayasundere told the Business Times.
He hoped that the promotions will start and will go ahead and in particular the joint promotions with the tour operators since they are the ones that can covert a client into a business.
Hotels Association President Sanath Ukwatte believed the present elected government is so much more focused and with the stock market having picked up so rapidly “confidence has been restored in the business community”.
He also noted that there was unlikely to be any undue delays since there is a one-party government in the country.
Sri Lanka Tourism is to commence its 12-market campaign from end November this year with about 10 activities to be implemented in eight markets.
Following this authorities were planning to conduct countrywide campaigns in 12 different markets like the UK, Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, Benelux, Poland and Ukraine.
In 13 countries the bureau will appoint PR agencies that will assist with market intelligence, market analysis, key stakeholder contacts and exhibiting the marketing activities.
Moreover, it would be interesting to find out if previous plans mooted by the industry to change the 2005 Tourism Act and bring about amendments to ensure the industry could go ahead with promotions without delays and with the right persons in place appointed by the industry itself would go ahead.
The industry that had been resilient even since the Easter Sunday bombings saw the number of arrivals fall in September compared to other months since April.
Post attacks the total visitor arrivals has been down by 71 per cent in May at 37, 802; down by 57 per cent in June at 63, 072; a 47 per cent dip in July with arrivals at 115, 701 and a 28 per cent drop in August compared to the same period last year at 143, 587, the industry report produced by Tourism Alliance titled Resilience Action Plan stated.
It was noted that however, the month on month arrivals has been increasing clearly indicating that tourists continue to come back to Sri Lanka.