John tells hotels to up standards

• Awards star classification to 28 hotels
• 300 hotels registered under SLTDA to be classified within two-and-a-half years
• Proposals to be put forward to increase tourist arrivals during lean period
• Airline rates to be brought down; hotels to offer tour packages as incentives for tourist arrival 
• Sees increase rate of 18-19% each month with estimated 2.5 million by end of year 
• Minister says Colombo hoteliers must give limelight to nightlife activity 

By Shannon Jayawardena 

For a country dependent on tourism, we have to position our hotels in line with the rest of the world, stated Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga at the star classification ceremony held recently. 

As per the new gazette notification No.1963/28 put forward on 20 April 2016, all tourist hotels registered under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) must be classified as star class tourist hotels, hence the SLTDA awarded classifications to 28 tourist hotels ranging from one to five stars. 

The remaining 300 hotels registered under SLTDA will be inspected and star classified within the next two-and-a-half years, as implications have been put forward by the authority to make star classification mandatory. Hotels below one star will be downgraded to guesthouses. 

Highlighting the industry’s conundrums and sharing the current steps being taken to resolve these issues, Minister Amaratunga said: “There are certain problems that have been highlighted by the industry with regards to the regulation which is being discussed at present. We have in this country what we call the lean period, where tourist arrivals drop during certain months.”

After numerous discussions with the Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman and other experts, several proposals were made in order to arrest the situation, noted the Minister. These proposals include brining down airline rates during the period so that more people will fly into the country at a lesser rate and hotels offering packages, which will act as an incentive for more tourist arrivals, he insisted. 

“There are indications that this year’s tourist arrivals increase over last year. Every month currently sees an increase rate of 18-19%, but by the end of the year we have to go well over 2.5 million, if not our hoteliers will have a difficult time,” said Minister Amaratunga.

The Minister also stressed that Colombo hoteliers complain of insufficient business but it is merely because of the lack of facilities available in the city. They must re-commence night clubs, as there is nothing to do in the night. The sale of alcohol is a problem, but will be solved soon as it has been brought to the attention of the Finance Ministry which will be looking into the matter.

“At the same time, there is something that the Prime Minister is working on, in order to make certain arrivals from certain countries visa free, which is very important. That matter is now under consideration and soon a declaration will be made as to from which countries tourists will be able to enter free of visa,” he noted.

As these amendments are being done at present, it is vital for all hotels in the country to up their standards, giving tourists the confidence they need to visit Sri Lanka, insisted Minister Amaratunga. 

SLTDA Director General Upali Ratnayaka said: “In Sri Lanka, the classification was initiated in 1967 and has been continued to date. It is important for hotels to maintain quality and service to reach this level of recognition in the industry, as the final beneficiary is our tourists.”

The classification reflects the standard of the hotel’s service, facilities and of the overall product with which a confidence is created in the minds of the customer, delivering a great picture of the destination to the tourists coming into the country, stated Ratnayaka.

The Ocean Colombo, Pearl Grand Hotel Colombo, Paradise Beach Hotel Negombo, Hotel Janaki Colombo, Villa Ocean View Wadduwa and Golden Star Beach Hotel Negombo were classified as one star hotels.

Fairview Hotel Colombo, Best Western Elyon Colombo, Coco Royal Beach Waskaduwa, The Lakeside at Nuwerawewa Anuradhapura, The Sanctuary at Tissawewa, Lavanga Resort and Spa Hikkaduwa and Berjaya Mount Royal Beach Hotel were classified as two star hotels. 

Tangerine Beach Hotel Waskaduwa, Ocean Edge Suites Colombo, Colombo Courtyard, Pandanus beach resort and Spa Induruwa and Ozo Kandy were classified as three star hotels, while Cinnamon Bay Beruwala, Grand Udawalawe Safari resort, Citrus Waskaduwa and Aliya Resort and Spa Sigiriya were classified as four star hotels. 

RIU Hotel Ahungalle, Anantaya Resort and Spa Passikuda, Anantara Peace Heaven Resort Tangalle, Shangri La Hotel Colombo and Green City Nuweraeliya were classified as five star hotels. 

Pix by Shehan Gunasekara