Kishu sheds Tourism Development role to focus fully on promotion

Kishu Gomes is to step down as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) in order to fully focus on re-building Sri Lanka’s tourism brand in his role as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board (SLTPB). 

Gomes has been heading both SLTPB as well as SLTDA since February this year, but the new challenges that have emerged since the Easter Sunday attacks have required him to focus on promotional aspects, leaving him with little time for SLTDA. 

Given the urgency of the work at hand, Gomes has opted to resign as SLTDA Chairman and spearhead Sri Lanka’s Tourism’s brand rebuilding efforts. 

Gomes, who is an accomplished marketer, accepted an invitation from the industry to serve the country through the tourism industry in February 2019, and agreed to head both SLTPB and SLTDA. 

However, given the current crisis situation, it is obvious that SLTPB’s efforts in the global arena should be strengthened with an acutely focused PR effort, and an aggressive marketing and brand communication strategy, to regain Sri Lanka’s position as the preferred destination for travel in 2019.