Godahewa blames failure to address tourism issues for low tourist arrivals

• Claims authorities have failed to identify challenges faced by sector
• Says 30 000 hotel rooms are now left unused due to bankruptcy or closures
• Expresses concerns over Govt’s lack of recognition of these issues 

FREEDOM People’s Congress (FPC) member and MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa yesterday blamed Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities for failing to address the issues faced by the country’s tourism sector leading to low tourist arrivals. 

“Even if the Minister of Tourism travels around the world to promote Sri Lanka Tourism the numbers are failing to rise due to the failure of the authorities to address the many issues faced by the tourism industry,” he said. The MP alleged the authorities have failed to identify the many challenges faced by the sector. 

According to Godahewa as of the year 2018, there were approximately 52,000 high-quality registered hotel rooms associated with Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. “However, the current count has significantly declined to around 20,000,” he said. 

The MP shed light on a concerning aspect and revealed that a staggering 30,000 top-tier tourist hotel rooms now remain unused, primarily due to bankruptcy or closures. This issue, he emphasised, stands as a central challenge undermining the sector. The MP also expressed concern over the Government’s apparent lack of recognition regarding the gravity of this problem.

According to the MP, this revelation emerged from a dialogue conducted at the leader of the opposition’s office between delegates from small and medium-sized enterprises alongside representatives from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.