Every citizen in this country is now enjoying permanent peace which was merely a dream, four years before.
Tourism is looked upon as one of the thrust sectors that can take a fast track in generating several economic benefits to the communities including in the war torn areas, said Minister of Tourism, Nandana Gunatilleke, at a press conference held today to brief on the 60 day crash programme.
The Minister added that this programme is a massive development process undertaken for the development of tourism with multi faceted natural and archeological properties scattered throughout the country.
“Development of all sectors which has some connection to tourism industry such as transport should be improved. Domestic flights too should be improved. We need trained labour. During the past few years a large number of trained labour in the hotel trade left this country. Therefore we need to train staff through the Hotel School, so we need to improve the Hotel School as well.”
He added that Vocational Training universities should be established to improve hotel studies up to university standard. “We expect seven hundred thousand tourists next year and we wish to open branches of the Hotel School island-wide. The infrastructure facilities to cater for increasing demand for hotel trade too should be improved.” he said.
The duration of this programme is November 2009 to 15th January 2010. It is intended to obtain funds for this accelerated programme from the Tourism Development Fund.
George Michael, the Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism said that the fastest mode of developing the country with the end of the war is tourism, “We have relaxed travel warnings so we could expect more tourists coming to the country in the near future.”
- Asian Tribune -
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