SLAITO commissions ‘risk assessment’ for tourism industry

With the influx of tourists into the country, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) on Monday announced the successful completion of a ‘safety assessment’ of the most frequented tourist sites in Sri Lanka carried out by TUI Travel PLC Head of Specialist in Activity Health and Safety Malcolm Ellis.

Commissioned in a bid to enhance the country’s product offerings, the report of the risk assessment carried out over a period of 11 days is expected within the next two weeks, SLAITO President Nilmin Nanayakkara said.

“The risk assessments will in no way attempt to assess the security situation of the country. We believe that Sri Lanka is most successful in terms of security with the eradication of war and restoring peace.” The assessment therefore is on sites, he said.

Defining risk in two forms, Nanayakkara told the Daily FT that risk assessment looks at activity based risks as well as risks at sites frequently visited by tourists. Citing examples, he stated that the activity-based risks include white water rafting, sea bathing, climbing the Sigiriya Rock, etc. As part of this assessment large number of sites, venues, locations and activities were ‘risk assessed’ so that measures can be taken to prevent any possible eventuality. “The aim was to look at how we can minimise risks for the industry.”

A key highlight of the assessment is to help hotels mainly and tour operators alert tourists of potential dangers such as dangerous seas, possible accidents during white water rafting and even when visiting ancient sites during certain times of the year.

In the assessment, Ellis has covered many areas in Sri Lanka including Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Paseekuda, Trincomalee, Hill Country, Yala, Mirissa and Negombo. The cultural triangle, Pinnawala, safaris, Worlds End, Knuckles range was some of the sites covered. The north and east were not included as the tourist visits to the areas are said to be minimal.

“Risk assessments are internationally recognised as basic good practice for all tour operators, especially in the area of adventure tours and for specialists in activity-based holidays. This due diligence was done with the intention of creating awareness amongst the Industry members to prevent or minimise the risk levels that our valuable clients are open to. As Sri Lanka’s apex body of inbound tour operators, SLAITO deemed it relevant to commission this assessment for the betterment of the country’s tourist industry,” Nanayakkara said.

He stated that risk assessment takes many forms. The ‘specialist and activity approach’ which was the form taken for Sri Lanka is not the simplest, nor is it the most sophisticated. It is however considered to be flexible and adaptable so that a whole range of issues can be considered in the right context. Risks can also be appropriately considered so that sensible, practical outputs can be obtained.

As Head of Specialist and Activity Health and Safety TUI Travel PLC, Ellis leads and manages the Central Sector Health and Safety Team with regards to the implementation, support and development of safety management systems for all sector businesses. These are both customer and employee focussed and aim to prevent, minimise, and where appropriate, defend claims for personal injury, ill health or negligence and protect businesses and individuals within them from litigation and liability and bringing disrepute to the destination.

Always commercially sensitive, Malcolm encourages a practical approach to managing health and safety and takes every opportunity to dispel the myth that health and safety is about ‘not doing stuff’ and says “it’s about being risk aware, not risk averse.”

With the growth of tourism in the country, the assessment would help the industry be “more prepared to serve guests better,” Nanayakkara said. Based on the assessment steps will be taken to put in place effective solutions for site based risks while an industry workshop will be held to inform the community about the activity based risks.