IN FOCUS
Looking at events in India, I am pleased to mention that Sri Lanka Tourism will
be participating in Travel Fair in Kolkata in July 2019, and also Sri Lanka Tourism
together with my Mission will organise a MICE event in Kolkata. In August
there will be a Tourism Road Show in Delhi organised by Sri Lanka Tourism in
association with Sri Lanka High Commission.
level which shows a quick return to outreach business. Even
a small infusion as such creates happiness.
Right now it is the horror images we see in the media.
Of course, the President, Prime Minister and the Leader of
the Opposition attending the Mass with the Cardinal of the
Catholic Church was a starting point, which should be carried
through and it should develop attitudes to return to normalcy.
Already Sri Lankans have started approaching these
sentiments in a futuristic manner, without trying to whitewash
the episode, as seen in this video.
I think a think tank like yours should be able to support the
tourism industry here to assist them by evolving a cohesive
and coordinated plan using a tourism disaster management
framework for sustainable outbound tourism, following a
sudden calamity to guide all actions purposefully. This should
be done in Sri Lanka too by the inbound tour and travel
tourism authorities.
In addition to think tanks, we may get endorsements by
a few well-known and well-associated celebrity fi gures to
get tourists back and organise a mega international event
in Colombo. Already Sri Lanka Tourism has started this
in Dubai last week at a one-day event. Further, Sri Lanka
Tourism will address the tourism community at the prestigious
fi fth UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in San
Sebastian in Spain; the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau will
also be present at the IMEX in Frankfurt. The only tourism
and travel fair will be held in Sri Lanka during the fi rst
week of June. This fair will be open to the business within
the local tourism ecosystem and organised by the Sri Lanka
Association of Tour Operators in collaboration with the Sri
Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. You are welcome to
recreate relationships.
Looking at events in India I am pleased to mention that Sri
Lanka Tourism will be participating in Travel Fair in Kolkata
in July 2019, and also Sri Lanka Tourism together with my
Mission will organise a MICE event in Kolkata. In August there
will be a Tourism Road Show in Delhi organised by Sri Lanka
Tourism in association with Sri Lanka High Commission. A
few more Road Shows will be held in other Metro Cities such
as Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore in August next. These will
be good opportunities for you to interact to gauge our return
to normalcy and to stand with us solidly.
Greater and larger hope
Some of you must be having contacts with our organisations
for sure and I wish that you would renew relationships. I
know some of you may still have concerns. To address those
concerns, I have to only quote the Chairman of Sri Lanka
Tourism on such fears, if any.
“We cannot allow ourselves to become paralysed by fear.
Nearly half a million families across the island depend on us for
their daily living; the impact on our economy must be mitigated.
We are working to regain the confi dence of global travellers
and operators by demonstrating that Sri Lanka’s response to
the incidents is eff ective while reassuring future tourists that all
appropriate steps are being taken by the Sri Lanka Government
to prevent any future incidents and ensure the continued safety
and security of tourists within the country.”
What the tourism industry thinks it should and could
manage in the disaster outcome scenario seems to me as very
wide, heavy and large. But, as long as we go along with the
Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, there is greater and larger
hope. Since the product cannot be taken to the consumer like
a pack of Sri Lankan tea, we have to consider how consumers
could be returned to the location, relationships are built,
nurtured, broadcasted and safety and security are reassured
and sustained. Let us convert the disaster to a business
opportunity. I am confi dent that by doing so you will achieve
the target of 550,000 Indian visitors to Sri Lanka set by us, a
reality. Please be reminded that this will increase your profi ts
because they are your clientele too!
We had to pay a big price on 21 April and let us strive
to swiftly return to 20 April with much vigour, dedication,
cooperation, collaboration and large-hearted brotherly and
sisterly spirit. I need not ask as the country representative
from you for your contribution, as I know you will give it,
even if I had not asked for it, because you are my friends,
neighbours and more than that my relations. In disaster
management it is said that your family, neighbour and relation
are the fi rst to come to save you; and, you have received the
grand opportunity to prove this disaster management theory
is more than right and you are one of those positive actors.
Do come along with me!
Thank you.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 4 • April-May 2019, Noida • 69