News
Tourism is making a come back
View(s):The tourist trade which hit rock-bottom in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings, is limping back to normalcy. The travel warnings against visiting Sri Lanka have been withdrawn.
Story and pix by Ishanka Sunimal
And, the tourists are returning as our photographs reveal. With tourism bringing in much needed foreign exchange it is necessary to ensure the protection of incoming tourists.
The security provided at hotels in collaboration with the police is a sign, the country is making maximum efforts to ensure the security of foreign guests to our shores.
However, more needs to be done to ensure that these visitors are not unduly exploited, fleeced or swindled by unscrupulous members of society.
Drivers of 3-wheeled vehicles who often swindle tourists and unregistered ‘tourist guides’ are proving to be a bane to the industry.
While 3-wheeler drivers often over-charge tourists, unlicensed tour guides often make a killing via sale of fake gems at exorbitant prices.
With the numbers of tourist arrivals increasing authorities need to crack down on these fraudsters engaged in these scams which bring a bad name to the country.
It is time relevant authorities take action to protect tourists from these nefarious sections of our community who are doing untold damage to the budding industry.
The tourists are back again in numbers on our streets
Colombo is seeing a resurgence of tourist arrivals since security measures have been beefed up
An old lady plies her ware along the beach
This group of tourists joined local fishermen drawing their fishing nets ashore
Tourists also help local cottage industries by purchasing their ware
Fresh 'thambili' to quench one's thirst