Fri, 2012-11-23 03:18 — editor
By Imtiaz
Muqbil
The
historic transition towards an Asian Century is generating a treasure trove of
both symbolic and real images of the shift from swords-to-plowshares. One of
the most thought-provoking is the conversion of Sri Lanka’s former military
headquarters in a prime location on the Colombo seafront into an area for
mega-projects.
Once
dotted with grim, heavily-fortified garrisons and gun barrels poking out from
behind sandbags and camouflage netting, the entire area has been swept clean to
make way for a massive seven star Shangri-La hotel. Its Hong Kong-based owning
company, according to local media reports, has purchased six acres for US $75
million. The remaining four acres are also up for sale to other investors. The
Sri Lankan government, according to the reports, hopes to earn revenue of
US$125 million on land sales alone.
For
the tourism industry, this is ample proof of tourism’s contribution to the
peace dividend.
Sri
Lanka is one of Asia’s most strategically located and tourism-friendly
countries, with an highly literate workforce and an ancient history. The 2009
termination of a murderous 30-year civil war has paved the way for economic
rehabilitation and national reconciliation, with tourism playing a potentially
lead role in both strategies. The devastation caused by the December 2004
tsunami made Sri Lanka the victim of a double-whammy – hit by both natural and
man-made disasters. The ups and downs of the global economy were making it even
more difficult to chart a future development plan.
Today,
proving the strength of democracy in the country, a vigorous debate is under
way about the best way of shoring democratic institutions with checks and
balance mechanisms, eliminating corruption, narrowing the rich-poor income gap
and ensuring justice, religious and ethnic harmony, amongst many others.
In
the midst of this, the positive changes are unmistakable. The once-ubiquitous
security checkpoints are gone, especially in and around Colombo airport. Shops,
restaurants and offices are abuzz with activity. Colombo city, Galle and
Negombo (all three of which I visited), and many other cities, are free of
garbage, cigarette butts and eyesore posters. Weekday traffic is devastatingly
bad in Colombo, but that is yet another indicator of “normalcy”. The national
mood barometer rises and falls in relation to the fortunes of its cricket team.
It fell when the country lost the 20-20 Cricket World cup competition to the
West Indies last October and rose again when it demolished New Zealand in the
first Test in Galle last week.
And
yes, tourism is booming again. According to the latest figures posted on the
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority website, visitor arrivals in Jan-Oct 2012
totalled 774,151, up 16% over 667,569 arrivals in the same period of 2011. In
2013, average monthly arrivals are sure to cross 100,000. The official target
according to the National Tourism Development Strategy 2011-16 is for 2.5
million arrivals by 2015. Tourism has been identified as major contributor to
the nation-building promise.
Here
are 10 reasons to make Sri Lanka the next stop of a leisure or special interest
holiday or MICE event.
1. Grow the Asian Century: Every visit to the country contributes
to the emergence of an Asian century. In many parts of Asia, (Myanmar, the
Philippines, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and others) a major search is under way
for the best socio-economic-political models to build peace, justice,
reconciliation and prosperity. With the end of the conflict, the public sense
of pessimism, gloom and despair has lifted. Hope for a better future has
brought a more optimistic look to people’s faces. Certainly, social and
personal problems plague every society but nothing is stopping ordinary people
from pursuing self-improvement, education and entrepreneurship. For the first
time in years, they see light at the end of the tunnel.
2. Peacebuilding:The local newspapers are full of the ups and
downs of the problems of peace- and nation-rebuilding. But one very valuable
lesson Sri Lankans have learnt well is that playing ethnic card and dividing
societies along racial lines is a lose-lose proposition. The country’s
multi-cultural, multi-racial society is its best asset in a globalised world,
and goes to the heart of its tourism promotion message. Every effort is being
made to prevent a resurgence of the deadly, divisive, multi-headed hydra that
so devastated the country. Politicians of many other Asian countries need to
take note.
3. Job creation: No industry creates more jobs more quickly than
tourism. The Shangri-La group is one of many investors flocking to avail of new
opportunities. Jetwing, one of the largest hotel and travel groups, is opening
a number of fabulous new hotels such as the Jetwing Lagoon, near Negombo. More
hotels are coming up as investors take advantage of fast-track investment
facilities. These are creating hundreds of new jobs.
4. Infrastructure development: The completion of an
116-kilometre highway from Colombo to the southern port and resort city of
Galle has cut travelling time from nearly four hours to about 90 minutes.
Infrastructure funds are coming in from international banks and finance groups
such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Much money will also
pour into the former Tamil Tiger strongholds in the North where the poverty
levels are highest.
5. English widely spoken: Ease of communications is a primary
by-product of the high literacy rate and one of the fringe-benefit legacies of
British colonialism. For tourists, asking for directions and talking to hotel
staff is easy. So is reading the newspapers, watching TV and conversing with
people on the streets. Those who want to take a deeper look at the country,
behind the superficial tourist literature, can easily do so.
6. Visas improved: Of the many policy measures implemented to
boost tourism, this is by far the best. Although citizens of most Western
countries don’t need visas to come to Sri Lanka, citizens of many key Asian
markets do. However, the process has been vastly simplified via an online visa
application that generates a response from the Department of Immigration &
Emigration within hours. Upon arrival, a QR code sticker is pasted in the
passport. Upon departure, this is simply scanned again. It took me less than 30
seconds to pass immigration.
7. Variety of destinations: From culture to beaches
to rainforests and Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sri Lanka offers a mind-boggling
variety of destinations to suit just about every demographic profile, budget
and market niche except winter holidays. As a ratio of small area and
population, it boasts the highest number of UNESCO heritage sites – six
cultural and two natural. Buddhist pilgrimage traffic is already running high
to holy spots such as the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
8. Great product development: Ayurveda and herbal
treatments are only the tip of the iceberg. A new generation of world-class
products are emerging, incorporating the best of new designs, eco-friendliness
and technology. Training facilities are also on the rise. Cruise ships are set
to step up their calls. Conferences will enjoy getting a motivational talk from
some of the world’s best cricketers. And students in non-English speaking
countries will find Sri Lanka an excellent place to learn English.
9. More airline access: As an island-nation, Sri Lanka is almost
entirely dependent on aviation for visitor arrivals. The country is served by a
broad range of airlines, including Gulf carriers, low cost airlines and the
national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines.
10. Relatively low costs: The exchange rate is 129 rupees to the
dollar and you can get a pretty good meal for 450 rupees, which is less than
US$4. Costs of getting around and shopping are insignificant. The entrance
charge to the national museum was 500 rupees. One area that will benefit
substantially from increased tourism is the handicraft and jewellery sector.
Both are relatively inexpensive, but need demand to grow in order to boost
diversity and creativity. It will be a huge blessing for the rural areas and
low income people.
Conclusion
Sri
Lanka is one of the best “value for money” destinations in Asia today. If a
politically peaceful, economically prosperous and environmental sustainable
society can be made to emerge by drawing upon the country’s ancient wisdom,
historic heritage and contemporary knowledge, it can have a positive ripple
effect across Asia. The “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” can be best described as
undergoing a long period of convalescence following some heavy-duty surgery to
remove a festering cancer. As long as no post-operative complications set in,
the “patient” can, and should, make a full recovery fairly soon. An influx of
visitor arrivals can certainly provide some nourishment.
This
writer, Imtiaz Muqbil, visited Sri Lanka between Nov 16-21. He is Editor
of Travel Impact Newswire and is a much respected as a travel industry analyst,
in the perspective of global politics and issues of war and peace. Imtiaz is a
personal friend whom I have known for 35 years. He is based in Bangkok --
Lakshman Ratnapala
-
Asian Tribune -
