Sri Lanka, with more than 160 ship wrecks, attractive destination for marine tourism
View(s):So far dive tourism, focusing on visiting ship wrecks, and underwater tourism hasn’t figured in Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape, highlighting rather sun and sea, wildlife, cultural and nature products. But going by what the experts had to say at this weekend Ocean conference, there is huge potential for Sri Lanka to highlight ship wrecks and underwater adventure as a strong, new tourism product.
A panel discussion at the conference.
Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya, Director Tourism Planning at the state-run Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), said that there is a growing demand for sea and marine promotions particularly since Sri Lanka’s sea area is twice the size of its land mass. “We need to find out how best we can address the need for ocean tourism in which diving becomes a huge part of it,” he said, adding that Sri Lanka has an abundance of marine resources.
He said they recently formed a committee of 25 officials of which ADB funded a consultant for this project, aimed at developing a framework for marine tourism. It was also noted that Sri Lanka should sink decommissioned ships and promote them alongside ship wrecks many of which sank during previous world wars.
India’s Praladh Kakkar, President IODA, co-founder of ReefWatch Marine Conservation and himself a scuba diver, said this inaugural conference has brought together ocean lovers, like-minded people with a passion for the marine environment, hoteliers, fisherfolk, divers – all together under one platform which is good for the ocean. “If we can set some standards in dive tourism and underwater adventure, this could be the start of a worldwide movement,” he said adding that there has been nothing like this before.
His extolled the virtues of the ocean saying: “If we don’t protect the ocean we will all perish.” Mr. Kakkar said while Sri Lanka can be the capital of ship wrecks in the world it is important to protect these wrecks with priceless treasures from vandalism, pilferage and stealing. “Put these ship wrecks on a tourism brochure and there will be enormous interest across the world especially those interested in world war history,” he added.
Anees Adenwala, Vice President, IODA, one of the pioneers of India’s outbound scuba diving and underwater filming industry and one of the nation’s first certified scuba instructors, who has trained Bollywood celebrities like actors like Shah Rukh Khan, said divers are an inquisitive bunch of people who like to explore underwater.
It was pointed out that in opening up the ocean resources for tourism, the authorities should consider the threats to ocean resources and such promotion requires strong regulations and responsible marine tourism practices. “Eventually divers should consider themselves as protectors of this valuable marine resource,” one participant said.
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