Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel, former Ambassador to Israel and UAE, President Ambassador’s Forum(Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel)

Aspire to be the best tourist destination

Best tourist distinctions on the globe are not very many. Sri Lanka has been one sometime ago as the best destination of the Globe on tourism chosen by ‘’Lonely Planet’ ’and may take some time to regain the lost glory. Answer to the main topic it is indeed a possibility if and when working on a target with determination dedication and opportunity given to the able willing and qualified which are in abundance in Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka has inbuilt natural conditions, resources and environment to be the best tourist destination if manages the available resources and apply professional innovative scientific   novel   methods on tourism promotion. The tourists in 2017 have been 508300000000 in number and 7.2 Lakhas in 2020 that fell down by 70.8% in 2020 in Sri Lanka- still trying to recover and there was a sharp drop due to ‘’covid’’ and subsequently the Sunday bombing – two double tragedies continuously which is a terrible double blow to the tourist industry of Sri Lanka depending on foreign exchange badly for developments and as foreign exchange for purchases of essential teems. SLTDA  – Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is the apex body of managing and regulating tourism in Sri Lanka under the Cabinet Minister of Tourism  which is a powerful Ministry set up with highest expectations of promoting, developing   monitoring and regulating the tourist industry which is the main source of the state income of some countries depending on tourism on development in which the success depends on the far seen strategies with professional basis, of the Minister in charge who needs to be dedicated, educated and a  professional on the job/subject  with a group of learned expert advisers on the subject. The current figures are bit encouraging as over 50, 00 tourists a week, for the target of 5 billion which is encouraging. Job and responsibility of SLTD is enormous and wide – to regulate, supervise, strategize, innovate, and to guide the public/private sector and the Minister in the proper way on tourism and tourist promotion, In addition to aspirations commitment, dedication, research, decision-making, are other requirements to fulfil the end results. Considering the inbuilt resources and the available human capacity and resources what is lacking is a proper leadership with a strong commitment with a proper understanding. Tourism is a main lifeline of the economy easy to promote and given opportunities to the learned and dedicated experts.

Tourist Arrivals

Tourists arrived Sri Lanka named by different names on beauty, treasures, culture, religion, ect from time to time from time immoral. ‘’Fa-Hian’’ a Chinese Buddhist monk in 410 AD visited with a group of others lived for short periods as a tourist and a researcher on Buddhism who lived some time researching on Buddhism as  a research scholar on Buddhism. His memories are useful and historical used and hailed by historian’s world over. ‘’Marco Polo’ – ’ the Italian traveller in 12 AD has left important memories for the future in addition to number of frequent visitors. Because Sri Lanka is an Island on a famous sea route in addition to the beauty and resources the visitors were frequent and continuous. In the recent past and to date the main tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka as tourists have mainly been from United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, China, France, Australia USA, Ukraine, EU, and many new destinations due to the good and adverse publicity including the wars, destructions, winning if wars, ‘Thusanami’’ and bombings that gave bad publicity yet ‘’publicity’’ to the small beautiful island. 2018 is a peak period in recent past on tourism with 2.5 million tourists and the income of 5.61 billion is a satisfactory figure that never regained to date. Decline continued continuously to date with some consolation of inbound tourism gradually increasing giving hopes to the country pressed with economic downturn and financial crisis that still continues with rising the inflation and consumer items all over. There is fuel and energy crisis that crippled the tourism and day to day life of the citizen continuously suffering with those engaged in tourist trade in a large number in many fields, thereby the 700,000 tourist arrival in 2022 made not much of a difference to the economic structure retarded continuously. Domestic tourism is famous among the thirsts and Sri Lanka today has an excellent network of roads through the country with an excellent and private hiring network for the tourist. Inbound and outbound tourism is also a factor to be careful about with the available airports in good conditions. Travel are of different kinds especially on leisure, educative and explorative to all members visitors to the country. These are few ingredients a tourist needs the host country should be careful about. Domestic tourism is growing with steady increase of tourists from neighbouring countries such as India China and SAARC region.

Road network and travel, Tourist Police and trained and able Tourist Guides

Travel is part and need of tourism in a country for the visiting tourists to move about in search of places of interest being one of the main needs of a tourist. In a tourist destination efficient public transport system and private conveyance has to be improved for the tourist to move about depending on the capacity and the needs, and financial strength as the case be. In addition to the hotel taxi service they will be given facilities for famous local and international modes of conveyance such as ‘’Wuber’’ ‘’Pick me’’ and similar groups the tourists are familiar with. Comparatively the road network and private transport system for tourist and tourism is good. Paces of interests and worship are improving with upgrading the standard of the temple of tooth beyond ‘’Taj – mahal’’ of India on UNESCO standards. There is a grouse on lack of night life on suburbs the authorities to look into. Competent qualified and honest Guide service and Tourist Police in tourism areas is a matter to be looked into by the authorities, for Sri Lanka to reach the target of the best destination.

Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka

Tourist attractions in Sri Lanka are in abundance to suit all kinds of tourists/visitors and their interests of which the products are not properly and professionally presented. The best example is ‘’Sigiriya’’ which is used by Sri Lanka to promote the country and tourism which is a historical rock town made by King ‘’Kassapa’’ who made it a fortress to protect from the invaders headed by his brother ‘’Mugalan’’ who was fighting against his brother and developed to be a fortress with giant Lion front made in 4.95AD today of great archaeological significance protected by ‘’UNSCO’’ that attracts millions visitors from all over the world as a leading monument on tourism in Sri Lanka. Compared to the similar sites such as historical for tresses in UK that are managed and presented to the tourists professionally with easy access, toilet facilities, proper guidance and protection and precautions to the site and the visitors, are exemplary though expensive it is timely Sri Lankan products to follow suit. Sri Lanka is a ‘’compact paradise of tourism’’ with things and places to see all over the country and around including the beautiful shallow sea right round the Island with major and mini harbours, with beautiful sights of fishing, places for Whale watching, boat trips, with 250,000 archaeological sites in the compact paradise on tourism which is rare and unique like in Israel full of similar sites on religious and archaeological significance. In Sri Lanka the end product and presentation of the sites needs novel modest and innovative models without disturbing the historical phase which is a difficult task that has to be done yet. Jaffna is the northern tip of Sri Lanka close to India which is predominantly occupies by Jaffna Tamils who are productive, hardworking and religious traditional group leading a hard lie as in Israel educating children for their future with fishing and shallow sea at the tip of the Pensile and ‘’Batticaloe’’ is close to Jaffna bordering the sea and predominantly occupied by ‘’Battacloe ‘’Tamils in a more productive area with ample land for agriculture. Both Jaffna and ‘’Batticaloe’’ are full of agricultural sites including Jaffna Fort and ancient Hindu temples in Jaffna and famous Churches in ‘’Battcolia’’. 250,000 agricultural sites in one small Island  approved by UNUSCO is rare an any standard, and the other beauty is it spreads countrywide based on history, religious and other monuments despite foreign invasions, and treasure hunters throughout the history and the theft of colonial powers. Some are exhibits in Museums in UK USA Netherlands Portugal and many other countries and private collectors. Unfortunately the impact of the archaeological sites and monuments is inadequate   due to the absence of tourist promotions promoting the treasure as a main part of tourism promotion. Beautiful sea right round the island is beautiful.

Only a fraction could be discussed today

We have discusses only a fraction of potential on tourism due to lack of space to cover more areas yet it is timely to discuss few other countries in the region flushing on tourism with less facilities and this to show off to the tourists. For example Singapore and Hong Kong are small patches on the map vigorous on trade business and tourism as well using modern techniques. Singapore and Hong Kong are tiny nations with barren land they try to convert to green which is naturally lacking with artificial gardens, greenery wherever possible, to make appear to be green to the visitor. India is a huge area full of tourist attractions and various kinds of sites making attempts to attract the visitor in need of various kinds of interests. China is another tourist destinations attracting millions as a leading tourist giant. Indian and Chinese tourists flocks in Sri Lanka in large number when Sri Lanka makes all possible endeavour to sustain them as sustainable tourists close to and as affordable tourists. Thailand is a Buddhist country famous for religious tourism and modern outlook and leader on tourism in the region, as Vietnam battered by war yet emerged as a tourist destination. These are some countries with some similarities to Sri Lankan situation and doing better than Sri Lanka due to better modern approach adopted to keep pace with the changing world unlike Sri Lanka, still lagging behind.

REALATY? TO BE THE BEST TOURIST DESTINATION ON THE GLOBE?

Sri Lanka has the potential, resources, and tourist attractions in abundance in this compact beautiful island on a famous sea and aerial route well-paced in the Indian Ocean, with a well-spoken educated population world famous for hospitality to entertain visitors, full of smile always. Many countries have become tourist havens with less resources and natural beauty. Dubai is a sandy land with no water, resources, or beauty at all – yet they use sand, the geographical situation and new found oil money to make its top destination on tourism. Israel is partly a desert with eternal war with neighbours yet a famous tourist destination, achieved with Dead Sea, archaeological monuments, and their innovations on technology and agriculture as tourist attractions. Napal uses the ‘’Iconic Himaliyas’’ as a front runner in promoting the land, Thailand uses Buddhism and the traditional historic and religious monuments, in the forefront, and even Maldives – the shallow sea that they have modernize with  innovative creations , but expensive hotels in the sea to cater high level expensive tourists and tourism. Sri Lanka has everything under the sun on tourism in this small compact island with all resources such as water and sunlight in abundance throughout the year. These small examples of success shows that what is needed for Sri Lanka to reach the destination and target on the target to be the best destination is hard work, dedication, commitment, and to be modern and innovative in facing the challenges, which we are lacking in them to be acquired the fact we are compelled to admit to be successful in meeting the aspirations to achieve our aims and desires to be the best tourist destination on the globe. (Sarath Wijesinghe could be reached on ( sarath7@hptmail.co.uk/ sarathdw28@gmail.com and 0094777880166)