Leading tourism industry associations appeal to govt. to change SLTDA leadership

 Leading private sector stakeholders of the tourism industry yesterday joined hands in appealing yet again to the government to change the leadership at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

The call for fresh leadership comes following several requests made to the Tourism Ministry to proactively look into the state of the visibly struggling tourism sector.

The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka and Association of Small & Medium Enterprises in Tourism issued a joint statement to the media yesterday on the need for urgent change at 
the SLTDA.

The stakeholders shared that an appeal has been made to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the need for a capable chief to steer the SLTDA so that the issues of the sector are actively looked into and solutions rolled out in consultation with the private sector.

“The gross mismanagement of the industry’s affairs during these challenging times has led to a downward trend in tourism depriving Sri Lanka of the much needed foreign exchange,” the stakeholders alleged in the joint statement. 

The statement also pointed out that Sri Lanka’s biggest land bank, which lies with SLTDA, has been arbitrarily distributed.  This has led to many court cases including a contempt of court charges against the Chairperson, Director General and the Directors of SLTDA, they said.

“…12 islands belonging to the land bank, in the Puttalam District are also in murky water,” the stakeholders pointed out in the statement.

Furthermore, they pointed out that the global campaign for destination Sri Lanka, which received the nod to be rolled out, has been delayed continuously. A justification or progress in this regard has not been shared by the SLTDA as yet.  “A budget of approximately Rs.3.5 billion is at stake and unnecessary expenditures are being carried out instead of promoting the Island,” the stakeholders said.  However, the present SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando has maintained that the integrated campaign will be launched ‘soon’.

Letters have been firing between the SLTDA and private sector stakeholders, especially SLAITO, in recent weeks. 
In the letters, the Sri Lanka Tourism Chief has stressed “for far too long the tourism industry has been represented by a few dominant bodies”. 

Alleging that the leading private sector stakeholders are trying to push and execute their agendas over the actual expectation of the industry, Fernando said it is time to reach the grass root level and give voice to the ‘heroes’ in the industry that continue to develop tourism despite many challenges.