World Tourism Day, celebrated globally on September 27th, serves as a reminder of the pivotal role tourism plays in fostering economic growth, cultural exchange and environmental preservation. In commemoration of World Tourism Day, Browns Hotels & Resorts, a leading name in Sri Lankan hospitality, hosted a thought-provoking forum at their renowned coastal retreat, Thaala Bentota. The event brought together distinguished industry experts to deliberate on “Tourism and Green Investments,” the global theme for 2023 and explore how Sri Lanka can nurture young talent in hospitality and embrace sustainable tourism.
Browns Hotels & Resorts, known for their commitment to sustainability, took this opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue to inspire action for the future of tourism in Sri Lanka. The panel discussion was moderated by Dinushka Chandrasena, Editor in Chief of Travel Talk Asia Magazine and Director of Operations of Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance.
“Tourism can only be considered truly sustainable if it generates income and decent employment, stimulates trade and linkages, and respects and protects our natural and cultural environment. Here in Sri Lanka, tourism is arguably the strongest sector in our economy today, with arrivals of tourists and earnings escalating consistently. At the same time, the sector provides tens of thousands of jobs and fuels numerous other sectors such as; agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and entertainment. Nurturing talent in hospitality is a long-term task that requires continuous efforts.” Shirantha Peiris, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management, emphasised at the forum.
Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, Country Head of Clootrack Software Labs for Sri Lanka, Maldives and Pakistan and former Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism and Sri Lanka Export Development Board, as one of the key panelists in the forum said, “Given that food security is a key challenge in Sri Lanka, the tourism policymakers must do carrying capacity studies before agreeing on Tourism arrival targets for the next five years or have a concurrent robust SME development agenda.”
