- Plans to designate 49 additional destinations as official tourist zones, locations to be gazetted in a month
- Moots establishing dedicated committee to prevent and monitor fraudulent activities within sector
- Assures strict measures to address concerns of tourist harassment, overcharging, fraudulent practices
- Insists on efforts to streamlining process of purchasing railway tickets online, cracking down on illegal alcohol sales
- Collaborates with MOH to regulate operation of SPAs
State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage yesterday announced ambitious initiatives aimed at boosting tourism sector, whilst cracking down on corruption and fraud within the industry.
Speaking to the journalists at a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre, one of the key strategies outlined by her was the designation of 49 additional tourist destinations as official tourist zones.
“These sites will be designated as tourism zones and will be officially published in the gazette within a month. Through this initiative, we aim to bolster tourist arrival into our country and promote its diverse attractions,” she added.
In a bid to address concerns of tourist harassment and fraud, Gamage revealed plans to establish a dedicated committee tasked with preventing and monitoring fraudulent activities within the tourism sector. “We cannot afford to let the reputation of our country suffer due to the actions of a few individuals who make mistakes,” the State Minister stressed.
She highlighted various forms of tourist harassment and fraud, including overcharging for food, inflated prices for train tickets and instances of sexual harassment against tourists. “It is essential to address these issues promptly to maintain the integrity of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry,” she said.
Addressing corruption within the railway system, the State Minister noted that higher prices for railway tickets are often facilitated by corrupt officials. “To address this, we are streamlining the process of purchasing tickets online and taking further steps to enhance this system. Such measures can help in controlling corruption and fraud to enhance transparency and accountability,” she asserted.
In addition, she underscored the need to tackle the illegal sale of alcohol, particularly on Poya Days, sacred Buddhist holidays when the sale of alcohol is prohibited. She expressed concern over the loss of tax revenue due to illegal alcohol sales and proposed stricter enforcement measures to combat this issue.
State Minister Gamage also outlined plans to regulate the operation of wellness centres which are categorised as SPAs in every nook and corner of the country. “While these establishments function as wellness centres in other countries, they deliver a totally different service. Therefore, ensuring the health and safety of our citizens and visitors is paramount. Currently, we are engaging in discussions with the Ministry of Health to streamline SPA operations and establish robust monitoring mechanisms,” she said.
