Tourism economics expert D.A.C. Suranga Silva, a senior lecturer at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Director of Economic Research and Industry Policy Analysis, spoke to The Hindu recently on a wide range of topics concerning tourism development in South Asia. Excerpts from the interview:
How do you see the tourism development in Sri Lanka in the post-civil war period?
Terrorism and tourism can’t go together. We had lost tourist inflow as a result of the civil war. Now, peace is back. The war-hit northern and eastern provinces are open to tourism. The eastern part is already developed and the northern part is on its way, with big hotels coming up in cities like Jaffna. We are now recognised as one of the fastest growing nations in the world in terms of tourism. Locals [Tamils] are starting their own travel agencies, hotels and home-stays, and selling their agricultural products. Jaffna University has started a tourism course. Many foreign agencies like the World Bank are offering funds. Youth training programmes for tourism are on.
What are the prospects of tourism in the emerging economies of South Asia?
South Asia is a region of untapped potential. Countries like India and Sri Lanka have huge potential and lack infrastructure, connectivity and activity. It is important for South Asian countries to liberalise visa regimes to facilitate free inflow of tourists. We already have other bottlenecks and it is not wise to put up another barrier through stringent norms. We have to trust each other and manage the issues liberalisation of visa regimes may cause.
What kind of relations do you want to see between India and Sri Lanka for tourism development?
India and Sri Lanka are historically and culturally connected. They share common stories of great epics such as Ramayana . A majority of tourists that Sri Lanka receives are from India.
Similarly, Buddhists from Sri Lanka are increasingly coming to India. Both countries need to develop a strategic approach for mutual benefit. We need to see the potential intra-trade between the two countries. We can also think of developing a combined product such as Ayurvedic medicines. We need to develop connectivity — not just improving physical connectivity, but also liberalising visa regimes. Hospitality, Ayurveda, spiritual tourism, and wildlife tourism are areas where the countries can work together.
How do you see the opposition from environmentalists to tourism in eco-sensitive zones?
We need to shape tourism to be more environment-friendly. In Sri Lanka, we opposed some tourism projects as they were threatening to the environment. Our resistance forced the promoters to redesign their projects to make them more environment-friendly. In fact, the tourism industry is more environment-friendly as compared to the manufacturing one, as the former is largely smokeless, noiseless and less polluting of water.
Don’t you think that too much emphasis on tourism tends to have a negative impact on the manufacturing sector?
If tourism is adequately promoted, the unemployed workforce left out by the manufacturing and agriculture sectors can be absorbed by it. Tourism, in return, creates demand for the manufacturing sector. More the tourist inflow, more the demand for local products. With the supply chain connected, the manufacturing sector gets a market base.
