{"id":117045,"date":"2021-08-13T00:05:53","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T06:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=117045"},"modified":"2021-08-12T16:47:55","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T23:47:55","slug":"foreign-policy-foreign-relations-diplomacy-and-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2021\/08\/13\/foreign-policy-foreign-relations-diplomacy-and-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"FOREIGN POLICY FOREIGN RELATIONS DIPLOMACY AND TOURISM"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sarath Wijesinghe President\u2019s Counsel, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel, President Ambassador\u2019s Forum and Jeff Goonawardena-Former Counsel General, Managing Director Thilanka Group of Hotels (International) and Joint Secretary Ambassador\u2019s Forum<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Foreign and\nDomestic Policies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are some topics\ninterconnected and interwoven for a country to prosper in tourism and economy. The\nworld today is interlinked to communicate with the rest of the world in few\nseconds with a click of a button from the modern technology and digitalization which\nis fast spreading worldwide. Today tourism has become a major income in many\nparts of the world, with the natural resources and modern developments linked\nto innovations. Foreign Policy is a set of pre-established strategies designed\nand implemented systemically to manage countries relationship with other\nnations. They are structured guidelines that regulates international and\npolitical dealings. Foreign Policy is prepared by governments to deal with\ninternational affairs adequately for the benefit and prosperity of the country,\nwhich will guarantee the domestic affairs and proper safeguards from outside\nand foreign goals. It protects countries core values and interests, national\nsecurity and economic prosperity. Foreign policy is supposed to be an extension\nof domestic policy and it is the duty of the governance to formulate the\ndomestic policy in compatible with the foreign policy concepts worldwide. Obviously\nprogress success developments, industries and tourism has direct effect on a\nproper and effective foreign policy and relations which deals with the rest of\nthe world. Domestic policies of a country are administrative decisions that one\ndirectly related to all issues and activities within the states boarders. It\ndiffers from the foreign policy, which refers to the way a government advances\nits interests in external political spectrum. Way government advances external\npolicies, business, education, foreign policy, tourism, business, agriculture,\ndevelopments, law and order and other factors are maters in the preview of the\nExecutive and Legislature to function and perform. Sri Lanka is in need of a\ncorrect and foreign policy able network of Ambassadors and Embassies to meet\nthe modern trends and challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Policy\nDiplomacy tourism Interlinked<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Policy,\nforeign Relations and Diplomacy are interlinked to tourism as the success of\ntourism depends on the goodwill and friendship with the rest of the world. The\nmost important economic features of activities related to tourism sector is\nthat they contribute heavily on the GDP of a country, hence high priority goals\nare given in developing countries. It generates high income and foreign\nexchange to the earnings to the nation. Best natural resources are in our\npossession to be a best destination if not the best, with sea right round the\ncountry with beautiful shallow parts with beautiful corals, network of rivers\nsprings and beautiful water falls, deferent climatic condition with few miles\naway, finest wildlife, natural beauty, historical religious and archeologically\nmonuments and ruins of great historical significance are a few attractions, in\naddition to the friendly people always with full of smile. Educated experienced\nand a professional touch is required to uplift the tourism in Sri Lanka to the\nworld standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

House must be in order<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to economic and political pressure exerted globally, regionally and\nlocally, it is time we place our household in order at any cost in the\nresolution of the ongoing disputes. Tourists expect the destination to be\npeaceful and safe to stay with moderate expenditure of living with reasonably\nexpenditure for consumer items of quality including hotels and other\nfacilities. Is Sri Lanka truly independent on the political and economic fronts\nto take independent decisions on economic issues in relation to dealings with\nthe member nations, international organizations, and monetary institutions on domestic\nor international issues, is a question difficult to answer in the debt ridden\neconomy and pressure from world powers demanding our land and resources. We are\nstrategically and geographically placed in the main sea\/air routes, next to a\nmajor regional power, competing with China. Powerful neighbour is a  powerful economic capable of exerting  direct ripple effect on Sri Lankan foreign and\neconomic policymaking, which is to be seriously considered by the Sri Lankan\npolicy framers and the governance. Tourist industry should be manned and\nmanaged by professionals without political interference and politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign policy is the set of rules or practices followed by a nation as\na member of the global forum linked by the UN today as guidelines to the\ninternational organisations and the member states. This is the simplest definition\nin addition to detailed academic definitions. A set of rules could be written,\ndirect, and indirect or in the form of speeches or declarations of the head of\nthe state, generally the policy’s formulator implemented by the Foreign\nMinister or the group of ministers. In any event, any state enters into\nagreements, conventions and treatises which are part and parcel of foreign\npolicy which is intact in the system on foreign policy. Some countries give\nspecial attention and emphasise foreign policy, and some are not. USA, UK,\nRussian Federation, and China prioritise foreign policy and sensitive to other\ncountries’ foreign policies due to their interests in different countries and\ntheir policies. One of the first duties of the new USA President perform was to\nrevamp, reform and reactivate the foreign policy of the USA, in line with his\npolicies of other countries, especially in dealing with the rest of the world\nand other nations by taking a complete U-turn from that of the policies of the\npredecessor on human rights and war. He put the foreign policy in order as has\nbeen done by his predecessors, which has a bearing on Sri Lanka and the Geneva\nprocess. Member nations today are giving top priority on economy connecting\ndirectly to the foreign policy giving full power and responsibility to the\nnetwork of Ambassadors who are guided and trained on promoting economic and\nfinancial needs of respective countries, giving targets and strict guidelines.\nUnfortunately, this trend has no ripple effect on our network of Ambassadors\naround the globe enjoying the perks at the cost of the tax payer, and the\ncradle of the network of the representatives of the country expected to\nshowcase the country to the world, which is so easy as Sri Lanka is one of the\nmost beautiful countries in the world with human resources, water in abundance\nand excellent climatic conditions unappalled as an ideal tourist destination.\nForeign policy is the strategy, and the future line of action of a nation on\nother nations and the world at large is a broader definition in terms of\neconomic, defence, and all other areas which are so important and sensitive to\nthe world over. This brief explanation shows how important it is for a country\nlike Sri Lanka desperately in need of good friends and backers considering the\nweak economic structure deteriorating gradually in need of FDIs, and other\neconomic backings including the goodwill of friends in need when the economy is\nin bad shape, debt-riddled and in need of foreign reserves when acing the covid\n19 crisis, just next to India one of the most affected. No nation can live in\nisolation in the new world interconnected digitally with physical barriers not\ntaken seriously when interrelations and interconnections are essential for\nexistence. Showing foreign policy is a necessity for a nation connected through\nthe network of the United Nations. The statement of Henry Kissinger that\npowerful nations have only national interest may apply to many countries as the\ninterest of any government is their own country giving top priority is a\nreality all the other states must remember. This is a classic example and a\nlesson for those countries that are aligned to groups or clicks based on\nvarious considerations. There are theories and pronouncements and suggestions\non look Asia, India first, Asia first, and Sri Lanka first etc., from multiple\nsources without the direct attention of the head of the state, the formulator\nand creator of the policy. Any country’s leaders and governance consist of\nhuman beings with human weaknesses when the human qualities are suppressed with\npower due to greed, power and pride. The quotation indicates how selfish they\nare as any other human being vested with power! The interests of the respective\ncountry are what matters other than other considerations for a member of the\nnations in the world family <\/strong>Sri\nLanka as mostpopular tourist destination. Interests of major powers\ngroups and international organizations play a main rile in the formulation and\nexercise of foreign policies and relations in smaller nations seeking\nassistance form rich and powerful. Economic power and independence matters a\nlot for the small nations to be independent and take independent decisions on\nforeign policy and relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popular destination for centuries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For centuries, Sri Lanka has been a popular place of attraction for\nforeign travellers, for various reasons. It is a world renowned destination for\nhistorical and archaeological significance, Buddhism linked with culture and\nhistorical sites of significance, natural beauty with forests plants and wild\nlife of most rare species of world heritage sites and monuments, beautiful\nwaterfalls and the network of rivers and historical water tanks spring from the\nbeautiful hill country namely little England akin to climate in England, varied\nclimatic condition within hours in the developed network of roads reminding of\nthe roads in Wales and Ireland are only few attractions in addition to smiles\nof the ever friendly villager with a broad smile always. Despite the geographical\nand many other advantages Sri Lanka is slow in leapfrog uplifting the tourist\nindustry which remains static for long stagnating awaiting rejuvenations of the\ntrend to reach upwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many visited and spoke of Sri Lanka for generations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese traveller \u2018Fa-Hian\u2019 \u2013 Buddhist monk visited Sri Lanka as early\nas 410s AD and in the 12th<\/sup> contrary with a group of other minks and\nstayed in Sri Lanka on a study mission where he made many noted on Sri Lanka\nand Buddhism. Italian explorer Marko Polo claimed Sri Lanka to be the best\ndestination for tourists and tourism. In 2015 Sri Lankan capital Colombo was\nthe world\u2019s fasted growing tourist city in the world. King Asoka\u2019s friendship\nwith King \u2018\u2019Devanampiystissa\u2019\u2019 (247BC -207BC) and sending son \u2018\u2019Arath Mahinda\u2019\u2019\nand daughter \u2018\u2019Sangamitta\u2019\u2019 in is a remarkable historical event in annuls of\nthe history of Sri Lanka on foreign policy and relations continued since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well documented<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka and tourism is well known and well documented, lonely planet\nselecting as the best destination on the globe for tourism, despite adverse\ncomments and clarifications required to eradicate misinformation Sri Lanka on\nsteps taken to wipe off  the most fearful\nand dangerous terrorist outfit for ever, thereafter introducing law and order,\npeace, creating a haven for tourists and tourism with comparatively reasonable\nconsumer items and excellent network of hotels and restaurants and guest houses\nto cater all strata of tourists.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are still lagging behind<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When compared to our other competing destinations with less glamour\nbeauty and resources, we are still lagging behind due to various reasons we are\nable to take corrective measures and improve on. For example the UAE with less\nnatural beauty resources and ingredients for tourism, she is a leading world\ntourist destination and a Hub in the Middle East attracting a large influx of\ntourists. Fortunately they have oil explored in 1960 which they vey wisely\ninvested using the geographical situation creating a Naval, Air and Business\nHub linked to tourism providing facilities but with meagre natural beauty and\nresources as ours. Same is mentioned in many other destinations flourishing in\nsuccessful tourism. It is time for us to learn from mistakes, others, and our\nown experiences to aim to be the best global destination with a new vision,\nplan and vigour fighting the challenges of corona and world downward trends on\ndraw backs on economy and other issues against forward trends. Next best\nexample is Thailand which has a booming tourist industry maintain religious and\ncultural values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must draw up a plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must draw up a plan and a strategy considering, the challenges,\ndrawbacks and the future needs exploiting our resources and competence as a\ngroup to promote tourism to lift it to the 21st<\/sup> century as it is\ngoing to be our future and future hopes to promote tourism we have been gifted\nwith our own free resources when other competing destinations are compelled to\ncreate artificial environments and needs for tourists and tourism. It is not\nonly the hotels and other facilities that are needed to attract tourists to a\ncountry. We as hosts will have to look into and after all the needs of the\nvisitors to their liking from the time the visitor plans to find a destination.\nIt is essential on our part to publicise our destination to the best based on\nthe modern digital age. Our publicity is on some standard and the internet and\nthe media is fairly well equipped requiring final touches and fine tuning to\nface the digital age. Let us draw up a modern publicity platform with\ninnovative novelties giving all the details in modern and attractive novel way.\nWe must develop a tourism regime like the employment programme in Philippine\nwhere 30% population is overseas in employment where the country has planned\nthe population for future employment worldwide. Philippine young is trained\nduring young ages to foreign employment with language abilities that has\ncaptured the employment potential in many areas such as hospitality sector. In\nthe same way we have to train and develop our talents on tourism and transform\nthe system to adopt to new trends of tourism without disturbing our culture,\nway of life and outlook which is a tourist attraction. Singapore is taking\nattempts to create artificial waterfalls and greenery due to the geographical\nsituation when Sri Lanka is so fortunate to possess the best natural and gifted\nenvironments. The new trend of the digitalization with 110% mobile penetration,\n60% access to internet via mobile and computers must be utilized for developments\nand tourism, as a way forward on economic and developments in other areas, as a\npart of the master plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Situation in the country is not so satisfactory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Situation of the country should be to the liking and satisfaction of the\nvisitor who has chosen the destination for some reason of is choice. It could\nbe media, publicity, culture, religion, scenery and beauty of the country and\nmany more one or more reasons. We must have proper and trained tour assistances\nwho will identify the needs and cater the needs to the satisfaction till the\nend of the tour and thereafter to narrate the good news to the word over. Tour\nguide is to be trained, pleasant, knowledgeable honest and registered guided\nand supervised by the tourist authorities and the tourist police which is set\nup for safetyman confidence. Tourist schools to be streamlined monitored and\nhave full supervision from the government and the tourist ministry based on the\ncriteria adopted by other competing nations. The state must give special\nemphasis and attention on the law and order situation in the country to give\nprotection and confidence to the visiting friends we are bound protect and look\nafter. Media must be careful on reporting the matters regarding tourists and\ntourism always considering the good name and good will of the country and the\nreputation of Sri Lanka and world over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources of countries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many countries have own resources of income for them based on natural\nresources, ability of the citizen, or sources of income with always tourism is\ngiven prominence as a main or a subsidiary income of the nation. For example\nour friendly nation Israel is an agricultural country as a leader on\nagriculture and an innovative nation with leaders on modern technology,\nfighting with neighbours right round yet promoting and giving tourism top\npriority as an income generating process. Tourist arrive as it is a historical\ncountry with historical background, the country has exploited careful to\npromote the nation as a tourist destination. This is only an example many other\ncountries worldwide promoting their countries tourism as a main or a subsidiary\nincome. Israel is concerned and careful of their safety and safety of the\nvisitors in addition to providing the services as hosts of the tourists. We are\nin a learning process rom others whilst improving ourselves. Port city as the\nInternational Financial Centre will be useful as a major and main FDI, which\ntakes time to reap the harvest. But the fact that it is in the process will\ngive confidence and strength to the tourist industry always connected to the\ndevelopment and economy of the host country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needs of\/for tourists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us consider the needs and requirements of a tourist visited to our\ncountry, having spent a substantial sum. It could be to see the beauty such as water\nfalls as described in broachers, to visit the sites of historical significance\nhaving heard from books or libraries, enjoy the beautiful beaches seen in books\nand images connected to swimming, surfing, fishing, or whale watching, learn on\nBuddhism and seeing the historical temples such as the temple of tooth, or any\nother one or more reasons known to himself and the group. Majority of tourists\nplan out the visit either by himself or a tour agent finding the most wanted\nand loved attractions of their choice and liking. Finding a reliable tour\nagent, places of stay, travel advice on sites, security, and the budgeting are\nmain feathers of planning making arrangements on the explorations. There are so\nmany areas and aspects to be looked into such as medical conditions of the\nhosts and their needs, making preliminary arrangements of sightseeing on\nmeeting people making prior appointments, are list of issues to be looked into.\nWe need genuine tourists who are not parasites such as some who visit to\nexploit the goodwill of the people and sometime engaged in illegal trades. The\nstate must be careful in monitoring tourist influx and it is a good idea to\nmaintain proper and detailed records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safe and friendly environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosts expects a safe and friendly environment from the arrival and the\nofficers including immigration, airlines, and support staff should be with a\nsmiling face and ever prepared to assist in all the areas of need. Broachers\nshould be in English and preferable in many other languages in detail educating\nthe hosts on the visiting country, culture, way of life, and places of interest\nin detail. In Singapore the brother consists of basic laws including consumer\nlaw and procedure, all details on health and precautionary measures, I n detail\nin simple language and the guidance and procedure is so simple with friendly\nnature of the staff in the visiting country. In Sri Lanka the visiting friends\nare troubled by taxi drivers, touts and many others pleading and pressurising\nthem with requests, demands in the guise of assistance discouraging the\nvisiting tourists at the entry with fear physics and sense of danger and\nuncomfortable feeling which has to be avoided in the name of tourism and\ngoodwill of the country. There are horrifying stores of taxi drivers harassing\nforeign and Sri Lankan passengers on return, with no proper remedy despite many\nunpleasant and dangerous incidents published on the media often gives drastic\neffects to the industry and the image of the country  appear to \nbe simple but complicate in terms of reputation and goodwill of the\ncountry. These are not unknown to the administration which has been given a\nblind eye for reasons one cannot understand other than sheer ignorance\ninefficiency and bad management. The environment has to be please clean\nattractive and orderly. Is it so in the Airport? In the eye of a frequent\ntraveller entering the airport with lot of hopes and pleasant feelings.\nAdvertisements and notices must be meaningful understanding and attractive.\nSome time ago there was a massive notice at the entrance of the immigration\nentry, exhibiting fine for an offences on drugs when it could have been done in\na ore gentile way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duty of the host country<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the duty of the host country to look into all aspects of the\nvisitor in detail whoever is the invitee and the guardian or the guide as the\nhost country is expected to supervise the professional work expected to be\nperformed by the private or the state sector, as the blame always on the host\ncountry for mismanagement. There should be a separate tourist police and\nofficers for the safety of the visitors, who are in the hands and custody of\nthe local staff never mind who they are with. In many other tourist countries\nthe tourist police seems to be active and do not seem function in Sri Lanka at\nall. These are not matters something new to the industry, but the blame is on\nleaders of industry who are responsible, and if they cannot perform they must\nhonourable leave leaving a more efficient person to manage. It looks that the\nleaders of the industry are not innovative and earn form the mistakes and other\ncountries, in many simple and practical innovations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumer Items<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standards of Consumer items food and restaurants and hotels the visitors\nused must be of the highest quality or if this cannot be maintained we must\ngive up tourist trade as failures. Tourist heads must agree with the Consumer\nAuthority, Standards Bureau, Local Authorities, Public health Inspectors, and\nall chains of hotels and restaurants \ncountrywide to give  healthy food\nat a price may be difference of prices to visitors with a more strong buying\npower prepared to pay more. Implementation of these regulations will help even\nthe local citizens awaiting the law and order to be implemented. Campaign\nagainst junk food, cola and unhygienic drinks, and generally junk food\navailable mostly in leading sophisticated food chains must be monitored\nprotecting visitors and locals equally in terms of long term prevention and\nprotection health of all is a paramount necessity especially when we are in the\nmost dangerous era on Covid-19 Pendulum leading the nation and the world\nnowhere with o hopes or an end in the near future and living on hopes. But the\nfact remains that we have to live with it for an unknown unlimited period and\nwe must get ready to love with it with necessary adaptations and adjustments.\nConsumer items do not mean the goods alone. Services including hospitals and\nother organizations and services are included in the category under the\nconsumer law that should be rigorously implemented to the benefit of the\ntourist and tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environment disasters <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is sad we are destructive and destroy our environment on sand mining,\ndeforestation, in many other ways in small an large scale sometimes with\npatronage from the errant government servants in the parole of the\nperpetrators\u2019 on destroying our environment. For us to be on top in tourism we\nmust give priority to environment but informational it is not given priority\nlike in other countries which is sad to note. How could we prosper when our\nforest is destroyed and sand mining is taking place at a terrible rate\ndestroying our river banks and damaging the forests on high lands which is the\nsource of water? Tourists love environment which is our wealth we must preserve\nprotect and enhance without allowing the mischief makers to destroy.\nEnvironmental destructions taking place in a large scale and it is the duty of\nthe governance to put an end to it if tourism is to be developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live with Covid 19 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covid situation is aggravating daily with the large number of deaths\nincreasing number of new cases all over the country, which is disturbing. It\nseems that we have to live with covid 19 for an unknown period and it is time\nto get used to and learn with it giving priority to tourism as well as our income\nis day by day declining in all sectors in the state. The situation in the world\nincluding the world powers and our immediate neighbour  India and many countries counties are day by\nday attacked by the virus,  with increase\nof deaths and number of patients to the highest \nlevels uncontrolled by all measure as sadly shown on the TV images in\nIndia with the warning to Sri Lanka to be careful reaching us across boarders\nand via other media such as cargo, import export and the movement of human with\nno order and restrictions as seen on the images and warnings by the security\nforces ever struggling with the unruly bombs disobeying the basic instructions\nso easy to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Religion, Culture, crafts and such traditional trades and arts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka is full of cultural, religious places and full of traditional\nlearnings will be an attractive and a productive areas in promotion of tourism\nand promotion of traditional skills especially in rural areas. \u2018\u2019Tovil\u2019\u2019 (devil\ndancing) and traditional plays are well known to the world and there is a\ndemand and need to learn the process by cultural groups worldwide linked to\ntourism. Religious tourism will have a main role on sightseeing of religious\nplaces of worship and learning the religion Buddhism being the most fast\nspreading religion in Europe and many parts of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Law and Procedure on Tourism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tourist board act no 10 of 1966, and tourist development act no 14 of\n1968 are followed by the act no 38 of 2005 in force is to be amended in due\ncourse with current proposals. Do we need change of law and whether change of\nlaw will improve tourism are matters to be considered by the Minister in charge\nand the governance considering tourism is going to be the main source of income\nand the image building we are desperately in need of. Following entities are\nset up under the current legislature for the management of the tourist\nindustry. SLTDA Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority SLITHM Sri Lanka\nInstitute of tourism and hotel management, SLTPB SLCB Sri Lanka tourism\nPromotion Bureau SLCB Sri Lanka Convention Bureau. More than change of law we\nmust change the lethargic attitude and lack of new ideas and innovations,\nlearning form mistakes and success of others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tourism Development Fund will consist of 1\/3 of airport embark<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let levies collected from the industry with voluntary payments too and\nthe income be dispersed among four institutions. Fourteen years of existence of\nthe act has not shown improvements and there are opinions of duplication of\nmatters among the institutions, and there are fears that the act is not\nproperly implemented with the feeling that the private sector participation is\nminimal. There are improvements which are minimal such as increase of 24,451\nrooms of 5.6 billion investments with 6% GDP of the country. There should be\nprize matches and uplift of standards. Our Zoological Gardens in one of the\nbest in the world not maintained with world standards. It will be an ideal\ndistinctions for the tourist linked to wild life parks spread countrywide, at a\nprice to the tourists with good standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embassies international community and tourism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lankan Embassies are the forerunners of the nation and it is the\nduty of the Ambassadors and staff to take charge of tourism along with the\ndevelopments based on economic diplomacy which other countries have given\npriority to. Every embassy must have a tourist desk and all other sectors\nshould come under the preview of the Ambassador as the representative of the\nPresident and the nation. Needless to say it is the duty of the Ambassador\u2019s\nforum to help the process and the nation in all sectors. Ambassadors and\nEmbassies have a pivot role in promoting tourism trade and commerce for the\ncountry they serve giving top priority to trade commerce business and image\nbuilding for which as a new trend with almost all the countries are giving\npriority today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Way forward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where have we gone wrong, and what should be our way out of this mess to\nemerge victorious on tourism and the general crisis, with which we can go\nforward to the highest echelons on tourism and productivity as a part of the\nworld economy. Let us be frank and realistic in our dealings and future\nstrategy. We have gone wrong badly in strategy, management, and absence of\nproper way forward full of corruption.  Inefficiency\nis the other evil surrounding us to be eradicated as a matter of urgency.\nLeadership on tourism should realise that they have failed and in return the\ncountry has failed due to corruption and inaction. If the  tourist leadership feels they have failed it\nis the duty of the head or heads to vacate forthwith to avoid leaving a group\nof dedicated educated and committed group to manage with new vigour and\nstrength. In the competing industry with many competitors in the world\nreminding us of the adage that we are not the only beautiful girl on the beach\nwhen other competitors are working round the clock. Thailand, Vietnam, UAE,\nIsrael, are some who have bypassed us with less or no resources and beauty that\nwe possess. These statements may not be palatable but the truth is to be said\nfor the betterment of all and the nation. Israel has no resources except the human\nresources. We have resources not second to any other nation in the globe which\nwe have not exploited. UAE is sandy land using desert for sand safari. Vietnam Israel\nand Japan make use the tragedies\u2019   they\nhave undergone to attract tourists. Nepal uses Himalaya, Bhutan religion and\nsimplicity, India vast places of interest, Maldives shallow sea, Israel places\nof historical and religious significance, UK the developments and historical\naspects including the Royals, France \u2018\u2019Ifal Tower\u2019\u2019 and places of historical\nsignificance, and Sri Lanka \u2013 What haven\u2019t we got to show the world of\ntourism?. It is sheer incompetence, lack of innovativeness, lack of strategies,\nplanning and exploration of novelties. The words may not be palatable but may\nbe productive and useful in the long run for the betterment of the nation. The\nwill determination and the vision of the leadership in governance is a major\nfactor that is lacking and it is time to make adequate changes and adjustments\nin the direct direction. In the circumstances foreign policy, foreign reactions,\ndiplomacy and tourism should work together with a same and similar aim towards\ntourism. It is encouraging that the governance is giving priority to tourism\ntoday.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sarath Wijesinghe President\u2019s Counsel, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel, President Ambassador\u2019s Forum and Jeff Goonawardena-Former Counsel General, Managing Director Thilanka Group of Hotels (International) and Joint Secretary Ambassador\u2019s Forum Foreign and Domestic Policies These are some topics interconnected and interwoven for a country to prosper in tourism and economy. The world today is interlinked […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sarath-wijesinghe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117045"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117045\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}