Do not mislead government, tourism sector stakeholders tell SLTDA

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam 
The tourism industry stakeholders yesterday called on the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to refrain from painting a misleading picture to the government and instead present the realities of the sector.

The latest Central Bank data revealed that the SLTDA had overestimated the tourism earnings for the months of January and February by a large margin.

“The tourism industry urges the regulator to give the correct picture of the status,” the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) said in a media statement yesterday.
The stakeholders urged the regulator to give the true picture of the industry, without misleading President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government.

They highlighted that the industry, which is 100 percent private sector driven, could help at this crucial moment to revive the economy by bringing in more tourists and foreign exchange.

However, the industry representatives said that for them to be able to assist in braving through the new crisis, a “correct approach” and support are essential. “With other countries in the region opening up and in the new normal of travelling, we need to move forward by passing personal agendas and egos,” the SLAITO said in its statement.