UNWTO hails Sri Lanka’s progress

Princess Dana Firas of Jordan – Pic by Gitika Talukdar

By Charumini de Silva

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) commended the efforts taken by the Sri Lankan Government to promote peace, tolerance and acceptance among all communities while asserting that the country’s reconciliation process was headed in the right direction.

“Tourism is not taken seriously for peace and reconciliation in many parts of the world but I am glad that Sri Lanka is doing it now,” UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai told journalists in Colombo following the successful conclusion of the UNWTO Conference titled ‘Tourism: A Catalyst for Development, Peace and Reconciliation’. He said the conference had been very successful in sending out the message of this year across the world, while adding more than 70 new ambassadors to promote Sri Lankan tourism.   

He said the Government had put in a lot of effort over the years in building peace and reconciliation through the tourism industry, but added that there was still a long way to go.

“Making peace is not easy at all. Winning peace is not just winning the war, it is winning the hearts and minds of the young people, creating a hope for the future and bringing all communities together,” he explained.  

He said that despite the country’s peace process being long and complicated it was genuine and moving in the right direction.

Petra National Foundation Chair Princess Dana Firas too admired the genuineness of the movement towards peace and reconciliation in the country, noting: “The resilience, the strength and commitment for peace in Sri Lanka is an inspiration and a model for the whole world.”

She asserted that the vision and commitment of Sri Lanka’s leadership to build a prosperous, strong and peaceful country was commendable.

“Shared human value is what we all need; to respect all, celebrate shared human values and celebrate cultural differences,” she added.

Princess Firas also acclaimed the strong public and private sector partnership that brought everyone together for the single purpose of developing the tourism industry by protecting the country’s heritage and culture for a better tomorrow.

Tourism Development, Lands and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga said that the Eastern Province was poised for a rapid growth with an industrial master plan where tourism was central focus.

According to the master plan, the current 1,300 rooms in the province will grow up to 7,200 by 2020. The master plan is being drawn up by the provincial councils with the support of the Central Government.

Noting that no other industry had the power to bring people together the way tourism did, Amaratunga added that the conference presented the reality that although the war was over, its scars still remain.

“Engagement of all communities from fishermen to tuk-tuk drivers is important. Therefore, hotels should not only be mindful of profit but of the wellbeing of the communities in the areas they do business,” he added.   

Stating that rebranding a post-conflict country was important, the Minister said that the success of the conference could be measured by the support and recommendation of UNWTO Secretary General and Princess Firas, which he hoped would go a long way in branding Sri Lanka as a peaceful tourist destination.

Amaratunga also said that the post-conference fellowship, goodwill and understanding were present in their truest sense.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Paddy Withana said that hosting the UNWTO Conference would give Sri Lankan tourism a great opportunity to develop.