SLTPB assures global tourism promotion campaign on schedule

• Assures there is no impact to the industry from removal of SLTPB Chief
• Calls for bids covering SL’s top 5 markets, plans to award tenders by March, and be online by May
• THASL ‘breathes sigh of relief’ as Tourism Development Minister guarantees destination marketing initiatives are on track
• SLAITO unhappy until promotion activities are implemented

 By Charumini de Silva

Sri Lanka Tourism officials yesterday assured that there will be no impact to the long-awaited digital promotional campaign despite the resignation of the head of Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

“The concern of the industry was that the promotion campaign would bring to a standstill because of the unexpected change in the SLTPB Chief. But we have now assured the industry that there will be no impact and the digital promotion campaign would be online as scheduled in later part of April or in early May,” SLTPB Managing Director Sutheash Balasubramanium told Daily FT.

He said they have called for bids for the six-month digital promotion campaign covering five of Sri Lanka’s prime markets including Germany, UK, France, India and China which will be closed next month, adding that the tenders will be awarded by March.

“The digital campaign is on schedule. It is a testament to say that all the planned promotional campaigns are progressing accordingly. We will meet the expectations of the industry and they should not worry too much,” he added.

Following the meeting the tourism industry stakeholders had with Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga last week, The Hotels’ Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte said that Minister Amaratunga assured that none of the promotional campaigns would be impacted.

“We emphasized to the Minister the importance of having a stable Board at the SLTPB without changing the bureaucrats every year. In turn, the Minister said the launched programs were in progress as the Prime Minister is directly overseeing the initiatives,” he added.

He also said that they can now breathe a sigh of relief as Minister Amaratunga has assured that planned destination marketing campaigns will be rolled out in a systematic manner and the industry should not worry over the removal of the SLTPB Chief.

However, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Harith Perera said they will not be happy until promotional activities get underway. “The destination desperately needs promotions. We will not be happy until all planned promotional activities are launched. We do not want the recent changed in the hierarchy of SLTPB to delay such activities,” he stressed.