Time to save the Tourist Board from politics

Tuesday, 20 January 2015 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By a retired Tourist Board official Lankanewsweb.net: It was a pathetic episode that the majority of employees of tourism authorities experienced in the last four years. All political appointees had no knowledge and experience in the tourism or hospitality industry but simply thrived on the peaceful environment the country gained after the war. The top officials were not approachable to many. The autocratic style was worshiped by stooges who had the access to the top brass carrying tales based on which the other staff was victimised. If not for this election results, the tourism institutions would have ended as political offices for then ruling party.

The fear psychosis was brought into coax the innocent staff members to do things they would have otherwise not consented to. The so-called ‘power’ of the minister in charge was thrown around for every action taken. All professionals were sidelined. They simply became on lookers of what was happening to their utter dismay. The tourism industry had no choice but to accede to all the directions given and tried to get the maximum for their industry. No one spoke against the policies due to the fear of being penalised. The silent professionals of the Tourist Board had to watch the callous officials of the high office running behind the politicians and helping their own supporters who were willing to go down to organising political work in the guise of dansal, etc. Things have changed contrary to the expectations of the politicians and politically-appointed persons. This was obviously a blow to them. That is why some had to come in the night and remove all material that would have established what they were really doing. Some of them are still around hoping that they would be placed in the system to serve the masters as they did before. A simple investigation into all payments made for their true purpose will reveal who is responsible. If this is not done immediately, the big fish will get away, leaving only the innocent staff who were forced into preparing documents to be taken to task. That is what normally happens in our country. The procedures, regulations were violated like daylight robbery. Anyone who walks into these offices today will know that this is how things happened under very responsible people in this country who were preaching sermons to their officers and humiliating them at meetings. The Hotel School was the worst affected. It was run by a set of people who had absolutely no idea about the hospitality industry. The lecturers are laughing that only thing that was done new was the bakery and the laundry and that too was an initiative of the previous Chairman who was chased out by this regime. The development authority had no initiative for further projects after Yala which too was a project that was started before this regime. Marketing budgets were spent lavishly for political mileage. They are all evident today, according to the staff. Let’s hope that the dignity of this institution will be restored. The professionals at the Tourist Board will await an opportunity to serve to the best of their ability. The new Minister is expected to do a quick independent study to ascertain what happened, where it lies at the moment and early actions necessary to be taken. We wish him well.