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Last Updated : 2024-05-13 08:24:00
3 August 2023 08:37 pm - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
While Sri Lanka has secured the bid to host a prestigious travel awards show in Colombo, the officials visiting Sri Lanka to discuss the event had been greeted by unmanned service counters at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
This was revealed by State Tourism Minister Diana Gamage who welcomed the officials representing the World Travel Awards, who are here to discuss hosting the grand finale in Colombo in December. President of the World Travel Awards Graham Cooke who had been among the group inconvenienced at BIA said that Sri Lanka has great potential in terms of developing tourism. "I see tremendous potential. The biggest investment this country can make is with its main asset, and the main asset is its people," Cooke said.
State Minister Gamage who also spoke to the media said that the inept officials and unsatisfactory services at the BIA were a leading cause for disappointment among tourists who visit Sri Lanka.
"Securing this bid took great effort. There were five other countries bidding for this opportunity. It is regretful that these officials had a very negative experience at our airport," State Minister Gamage said, highlighting what she said was a sorry state of affairs at the country's main international airport.
"The officials have not had their visa to enter the country at the time of their arrival. They had been directed to a counter and nobody had taken any notice of them. The counter had been empty. There had been nobody to direct them or help them at the airport," she said.
Minister Gamage said that she has constantly highlighted the fact that inefficient services at the airport were directly impacting tourism development in Sri Lanka. "This official explained to me that he was greatly disappointed and that he wanted to return to where he came from. This is the first point where tourists are discouraged and turned back," Gamage said. The Minister said that there will be no development of the tourism industry unless there is a change in this attitude of the people. "This is not the first time I have received this complaint as the State Minister. Tourists from every country complain about this," she said.
The officials are due to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe, where this issue will be brought up, Gamage said. (Kalani Kumarasinghe)
Fub Thursday, 03 August 2023 09:57 PM
Who cares. We are searching for three meals a day.
RR Thursday, 03 August 2023 10:26 PM
GOVT ONLY LOOKING TO COLLECT MONEY
joshua Thursday, 03 August 2023 10:39 PM
may be officials were frightened of Cannabis?
kumar Thursday, 03 August 2023 10:54 PM
I think it is the duty of the officials at the tourism Ministry or tourism board to arrange necessary protocol to receive such delegations.
Fred Thursday, 03 August 2023 11:25 PM
What about the highway from the airport to the city so badly lit it was hard to say it was leading to a capital city .Who built it? At what cost?The visitors had said the people are our greatest asset.Is there a leadership issue in tourism or a people issue good to investigate.
Finesse Friday, 04 August 2023 12:01 AM
BIA is a joke. Especially the check in process. They take forever to check in people and the queues are chaotic.
Sumo Friday, 04 August 2023 12:50 PM
Perhaps you should try Heathrow on a bad day. Mayhem there is how I mould describe it. BIA chaos is nothing compared to that
Jude Friday, 04 August 2023 01:55 AM
So these people came down unannounced,!???
Jude Friday, 04 August 2023 01:56 AM
It's self-service counters, yeah!!
Spartacus Friday, 04 August 2023 04:24 AM
Biggest mistake British did 70y ago is handover the reigns of power to Sinhalese when they left. They should have given at least 50% mandatory power to Jaffna Tamils who are honest, hardworking, educated and civilised.
Visa system is delaying everying, have to pay bribe Friday, 04 August 2023 04:59 AM
Goverment decided to stop the free visa for countries like UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and many other developed Western nations, and demands for paying $100 at least for tourists or officials of these nations to be done pre-paid. This dirty act by Rajapaksa for national pride is showing the consequences now. I live in US, and feel discriminated by the visa system when coming to visit my family here. US now has special law that blocks new jobs high tech government research sectors from those people born in North Korea, Russia, China, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Vietnam and other nations US sees as hostile or potentially hostile. I got job before Sri Lanka was added into the banning law, but told by boss, if I take Sri Lankan citizenship up again I lose job. I cannot now even get promotion in agency because I am born in Sri Lanka. Why Sri Lankan also slap me down when coming to Sri Lanka by asking me to pay for Sri Lankan visa.
Assis Friday, 04 August 2023 05:57 AM
Another scam company World Travel Awards, Who the world believe that this is good for the country ? Some one is geting paid.
Wickrama Wijayasiri Friday, 04 August 2023 06:33 AM
I agree with the minister 101%. This issue of ignorant and uncaring officials run deeper than the public officials. I have had a similar issues with local officials of Singapore Airlines, recently. Our on-line web portals to almost all airlines suffer the same way. in addition to that., our IT with most of the airlines to get advanced boarding passes is appalling, despite the fact that we boast about Sri Lankans' abilities. Simply nobody cares! We only want their Dollars!!
Ganga queen high on dope. Friday, 04 August 2023 06:43 AM
Why not make it for outgoing passenger a who hold diplomatic passports. Then it's easy for corrupt politicians to slip out of the country when the next aragalaya happens
Buddhist Friday, 04 August 2023 06:58 AM
The mishap is not the failure of only the airport officers, it's the failure of Dayana Gamage as she has not coordinated their arrival at the airport. If she is the organizer, was she selling fish without being at the arrival lounge of the airport to receive them?
Visitor Friday, 04 August 2023 07:39 AM
When your Ministry has not coordinated the arrival of these officials at the airport well, aren't you just complaining about your own inefficiency? Get your act together first before shifting the entire blame on the attitude of 3rd world airport officials.
MWAI Fernando Friday, 04 August 2023 07:43 AM
Why the VIP section function well and the other section does not? Stop Government Ministers, MPs even the President going through The VIP Section. Keep VIP Section only for Foreign VIP Delegations. Do this and see within a few weeks Diana`s problem will be solved.
Gommadda Friday, 04 August 2023 07:48 AM
There is nothing to discuss wasting time. Implement and carry on. Pity cannot maintain initiatives. Country and economy under Buddhist doctrin backed by all religious pickle, diabolically disoriented.
Sambo Friday, 04 August 2023 08:15 AM
The minister of tourism has become the minister of foreign affairs. We have proved more than once that we have incapable officers in this country.
Tariq Friday, 04 August 2023 09:25 AM
Who cares. Tourism industry is one industry where a Reservation
GERIATRIC TAX PAYER Friday, 04 August 2023 09:38 AM
WE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX PAYERS LAST 45 YEARS ARE FEELING THE SAME!
fact Friday, 04 August 2023 09:46 AM
Airport of a country creates the first impression so we need to give a pleasant experience to travellers and a easy swift transit .this what happening developed places ,where you will be greeted by young energetic people with a smile and eager to help but in our airport we can see old ,non-energetic lazy buggeres hardly smile .porters are worst .overall experience is poor .tourism and transport ministers are sleeping without looking in to these
James Friday, 04 August 2023 09:51 AM
This is true, Sri Lankan airport staff are some of the laziest public servants I have seen.
Gamini Friday, 04 August 2023 10:08 AM
Fub-unless these things are sorted out immediately, you will continue to search for your three meals. So don't take the attitude of who cares
Peter Friday, 04 August 2023 10:37 AM
That's ok. Sri Lanka is a LAND LIKE NO OTHER. So it's fine to take a nap in the airport when passengers are arriving.
Citizen Friday, 04 August 2023 12:21 PM
I have been traveling to Dubai last 20 years and our airport is the most pathetic airport have experienced and nothing is developed, same old style. Still filling the form manually. Counters are empty without officials when passages arrive and long ques. No assistance for foreign nationals. Officials take so long to clear the emigration and duty free is full of liquor and nothing much available for shopping.
Shame Friday, 04 August 2023 01:39 PM
Our Airport and immigration services staff are thoroughly inefficient in handling foreign delegates as they are having lack knowledge of English and other foreign languages, this is the main cause of the problem that prevails in this sector, as they are all political appointees rather than merit appointees.
N V Jen Friday, 04 August 2023 01:48 PM
The Immigration officials at the airport are stern faced, never smile and hardly greet any one. Look at the pathetic state of the shuttle buses people are compelled to travel in case the air-bridge is not available. Inefficiency and incompetency are the hall marks of Sri Lanka everywhere. The best migrate while the morons hang on to make life miserable.
Cherath Friday, 04 August 2023 02:59 PM
This all stems from the lethargic mindset of a majority of workers anywhere in Sri Lanka. This has worsened over the past couple of years due to unimaginable pressures on survival on a daily basis due to bad decisions of the govt. Nevertheless, Katunayake air port staff, particularly the immigration office and the police are inept, inefficient and have no idea of courtesy and good manners. They are worse with people who have similar appearance to them. I have now stopped visiting.
ACl Friday, 04 August 2023 06:01 PM
How is that staff were NOT available. Either they were NOT advised of the arrivals or it was done deliberately as it involved Min Gamage and someone wanted to make a fool out of her but what they don't realise it only reflects on the entire country. Bottom line SLs are some of the laziest SOBs and it seems to have gotten worse. Min Gamage also needs to stop address nonsensical issues. This is the problem when the wrong people are put in place.
Anu Friday, 04 August 2023 09:41 PM
Very true .. even I had many experiences at BIA even it happened 8 months back. When approached immigration one side of counters were closed and not a single immigration officer was available and had to wait 10-15 minutes to start manning counters .. not even smile on their faces and they even struggled to Establish proper communication with foreigners .. Best-way forward to hire young talents who are good at languages and have a smile on their face and tech savvy
VRAJ Friday, 04 August 2023 10:48 PM
IT IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT DEPENDS ONLY ON TEA EXPORT AND TOURISM
PatheticSriLankan Saturday, 05 August 2023 01:05 PM
This is typical Sri Lankan nature.... No accountability from the top to the bottom. We always blame others. We have to remember we are all part of this problem. We all have a say to all what's happening to the country. No respect, integrity, empathy etc. We all should be ashamed of ourselves.... Each and every Sri Lankan. Specially those who go abroad thinking everything will work out. Shame on you. Shame on us. Shame on everyone. All our attitudes should change for the better future. Or else we will always be a third world nation slaves to idiots.
Nimal Sunday, 06 August 2023 06:57 AM
Hon. Minister, before you invite or apply for global tourism awards you need to clean up the entire system. From arrival right through to departure. My first hand experience, the immigration officials at the arrival counters are the worst in terms of customer service I have ever come across in the world. Then there is a dimly lit corridor where sales people are trying to sell you duty free goods. I mean, seriously? Who wants to buy a washing machine at 01:00 in the morning after a long international flight? Finally, there are people trying force taxis on you once outside the terminal. The whole Sri Lankan airport experience is disgusting and reflects badly on all Sri Lankans!
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