With the island’s worst economic crisis and political upheaval in the rear-view mirror, the Government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake set an ambitious goal for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, aiming to welcome over 2.5 million visitors in 2025. Backing the effort with a Budget allocation of Rs. 500 million, the Government has moved to prioritise infrastructure development, industry promotion, and the introduction of a digital ticketing system to enhance the visitor experience. To attract 2.5 million tourists, it is essential to have the right infrastructure and ensure a comfortable stay for both local and international visitors. While tourism may not be a long-term solution for Sri Lanka’s economic woes, it seems that the previous Government of Ranil Wickremesinghe and the incumbent NPP Government have both hedged their bets on tourism to slingshot Sri Lanka out of the current crisis.

The importance of improving infrastructure, services and the regulatory procedures for tourism cannot be overstressed. President Dissanayake, in a meeting with government stakeholders earlier this month, highlighted the importance of enhancing the quality of infrastructure and services for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, a country gaining global recognition as a top tourist destination. There have long been complaints about tourists being charged exorbitant fees to visit cultural sites, which do not even offer basic sanitation or toilet facilities for visitors.

The safety, health and wellbeing of tourists, particularly in high-volume areas, have long been neglected. However, yesterday, it was learnt that the ministry has discussed with the Ministry of Health regarding the deployment of medical staff for an emergency treatment unit (ETU) in Sigiriya, while plans are also underway to establish first aid units at around 25 key tourist destinations. This is a welcome move. For example, tourists – both local and foreign – who visit Sigiriya often suffer from wasp attacks, dehydration and or fatigue due to the climb and temperature. There have also been reports of insect bites, allergies and snakebites in the vicinity of the World Heritage site. Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, said that a decision had been made to establish an ETU in Sigiriya and that related discussions with the Health Ministry had already taken place. "There is a need for an ETU there. We can allocate the necessary funds, but the challenge is sourcing the medical staff. We have made a request to the Health Ministry regarding this." He said that plans are in place to set up 25 first aid units at key tourist destinations across the country. "There are many tourist sites in Sri Lanka, and we have decided to first establish first aid units at the most important ones. The procurement process to acquire the necessary resources has already begun, and these units will be set up soon." Last week, the Ceylon Spirit Tourism Association claimed that over the past two to three years, six people – including both tourists and tour guides – have lost their lives at Sigiriya due to the absence of adequate first aid services. He pointed out that despite the high ticket price of around Rs. 11,000 for Sigiriya, basic first aid facilities are still not available.

Last year, Sigiriya Tourism Association Chairperson Chaminda Jayanatha told The Sunday Morning that certain essential infrastructure facilities were lacking in the Sigiriya area, including the absence of light at night, poorly-constructed rural roads, and lack of support for service providers. He specifically pointed to the lack of electric lighting, considering the danger from elephants. “Firstly, there is no electric lighting during the evenings; the area is insufficiently illuminated.” He noted that one of their recommendations was to use solar energy to provide lighting to all areas in Sigiriya that tourists were likely to visit. Referring to an incident where a tourist couple on a visit to Sigiriya had come under attack by a wild elephant on their way to the summit of the Sigiriya rock in the early hours, he noted: “The injured tourist had been taken to hospital by a tourist guide at the site by motorbike. Given that this site is one of the biggest revenue generators in the country in terms of tourism, the Government needs to get involved and provide more facilities.” According to him, not enough is being done in this regard: “Wild elephants come into hotel areas, causing harm to tourists who roam about at night. However, there has been no programme to address this.”

As such, this first step by the Government should be commended. However, there is much more to be done, including a change in attitudes of locals, not seeing tourists as an opportunity to rip off some dollars, but to improve their services to make tourists’ visit the most memorable one they had. That’s how Sri Lanka can weather storms in the industry and have a lasting brand image we all can be proud of.