‘Choon pan’ tourists are of no use: JVP

Saturday, 09 February 2013 17:06

JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said at a meeting in Akuressa that though the government boasted of 2.5 million tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka by 2015 most of the tourists who come to the country now are hard up and depend on vendor - bakery vehicles (Choon Pan) for their meals.

“Our country needs tourists who can afford at least a 10-day stay in a five Star hotel which can generate job opportunities for a Chef, driver, waiter and room attendant not the poor ones who arrive today. Priority should be given to develop agriculture and grow trees. But it has become a non-profitable venture nowadays”, Mr. Amarasinghe added.

He said brothel houses were mushrooming in the country today.(S.K. Indrawansa)

Comments

-0+1 # LOL 2013-02-09 05:30

Quite ironical to expect tourists to stay at least 10 days in a 5 start hotel when the vast majority of the country's citizens can't even afford day-to-day living costs.

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-0+0 # Nate 2013-02-09 05:30

These tourists are back packers. Sri lanka is getting popular among them.

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-56+49 # gOBBAYA 2013-02-09 19:33

What a loser this man is,

-59+16 # Nikanwansa 2013-02-09 20:17

Hai, shall we try to improve our agriculture based economy and chase the bl......y tourists out of the country ?

-0+15 # Gamini Lindagedera 2013-02-10 18:39

You don't have to stop tourism to develop agriculture.

-11+48 # sri lankan 2013-02-09 20:22

Soma aiya oyath ape rajathuma ekka fit wanna .. ethakota oyatath pacha wansa wage choon eke inna puluwang..

-31+72 # Viraj V 2013-02-09 20:26

Agree some truth in what he says.

-14+44 # IRC Rathana 2013-02-09 20:28

Choon pan of modachoon king kong.
Chawra raja in india with 70 thievs.

-2+41 # DN 2013-02-09 20:38

Good for bakeries.

-16+68 # Sanjeewa Dubai 2013-02-09 20:46

This so called 2.5mil tourist ,is including the transit people and the guys who come to drop baggage ...this is good to fool the body balla sena...hip hip hooray to the jvp.....but what can you do....your life is on threat if you try bringing people to the road....wola

-18+58 # David 2013-02-09 21:17

Tourists come to Sri Lanka to expierence local street food too. They want to experience what locals eat. Most of them are tourists. If they wanted luxury food then they have it at where they live.

-19+50 # Curious 2013-02-09 21:41

He has a point !

-2+9 # gOBBAYA 2013-02-10 14:03

At least bakery owners and their poor staff will get the beneifit of it rather than it goes to hotel owned multi millionairs.I thought this loser is with the poor people in this country.again he is a big time loser.

-13+34 # ANDARE 2013-02-09 21:55

RATHU WANSA IS STILL LIVING IN A FOOL'S PARADISE!!!

-13+43 # rumi 2013-02-09 22:22

what right do you have to speak about economy? you killed our youths and still creating division among university students.

you better go to Russia and settle down there.

-8+27 # Dee 2013-02-09 22:49

You are talking of some form of employment, not nessesarily at hotels, opportunities galore.

-0+0 # Puswedilla 2013-02-10 05:30

But then you will lament about capitalist system

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-0+0 # sl expat 2013-02-10 05:30

I was shocked by the costs of hotels when I was in SL last Christmas. hotels I stayed at last year have TRIPLED in price . what the government needs to remember is that flights to SL are expensive compared to other holiday destinations. if they carry on like this we will lose tourists to Maldives/Thailand/Singapore and our economy will collapse. .

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-0+0 # Ranish 2013-02-10 05:30

that's true! most or significant portion of so called tourists are those Chinese on the run and Indians looking for our money to fund their living.

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-2+8 # SSK 2013-02-10 12:12

Somaya pissuwen dodawanawa.
He does,t like any single tourist coming to Sri Lanka whether they "Choon Pan" or a millioner
.

-2+6 # Phil 2013-02-10 12:44

The real question is who benefits. Does the money spent in a 5 star hotel benefit the people who need it most? Backpackers spend their money on people who benefit from it DIRECTLY. What percentage of the money spent at a 5 star place benefit its waiters and room cleaners?

-2+8 # Ann 2013-02-10 12:52

At least by buying from vendor - bakery vehicles they are providing business to these people

-5+0 # Up 2013-02-10 14:36

This type of tourists consume government subsidiary provided to Sri Lankans. Benefit only the AIr Lines. We have to learn many from Thailand.

-1+5 # Virendra 2013-02-10 16:18

So is this guy happy if Sri Lanka loses these many tourists to other countries? India and Thailand hoteliers should start celebrating.

-1+4 # Erin 2013-02-11 06:16

Money for the country's economy is not depended on what type of tourist arrive with your attitude not only are you insulting the tourist and your arrogance will never make you a good politician.Politics is based on reaching out to the masses.Also SL has recovered from the horrible civil war and got back the tourist.How on earth did someone like you end up been in politics.How can you insults foreign tourist by your crudeness.SL was in the New York Times as the number 1 tourist destinstion.You need another job politicians like you are a source of embarrassment to the country.

-0+2 # Maha 2013-02-11 09:35

wow, for a left wing leader who promotes equality?? and looking at the poor, it seems ur also dependent on rich capitalist tourists?? shame on u to say something like that...

-0+1 # jaya 2013-02-11 09:36

There is a fundamental errors in the objectives of the Ministry of Tourism since they target no. of tourists arrival rather than the amount that they can earn as foreign exchange. Lack of knowledge in the planing with so many advisers.

-0+0 # raviraj 2013-02-11 11:17

you and your outdated clan are against the rich and the west and India all the time, but want their tourist dollars.
If you want their money listen and do as they tell

-0+0 # Lalith 2013-02-11 13:05

Somey sahodarayaa...we must support "Peeditha Panthiye Tourists"....practice what you preach!

-0+0 # angel silva 2013-02-12 08:19

Hey dont you feel happy that the local vendors get a chance to sell their items and make a bit more money. No tourism is free from prostitution ,booz and drugs.

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