Sri Lanka Tourism to get tough on ’Foreigners Only’ policy

18 January 2022 12:15 pm - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) today said stern action will be taken against tourist establishments who practice a 'Foreigners Only' policy.

In a statement, the SLTDA said that they had received complaints regarding discriminatory practices followed by some tourist establishments against Sri Lankan citizens.

"Our Constitution affords the equal right to all citizens; where no person shall, on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, sex, or anyone such grounds, be subjected to any disability, liability, restriction, or condition concerning access to shops, public restaurants, hotels, places of public entertainment and places of worship," the SLTDA said.

The authority said that they would suspend or cancel the license of such establishments, including informing travelers and notifying Online Travel agencies to abstain from taking bookings if any spots were found to have been discriminatory.

The SLTDA said that domestic tourists had stood by the tourism industry through difficult times. “It's our citizens who have supported our industry right throughout. For that, as industry stakeholders, we should be grateful,” they said.

At the same time, we urge the domestic travelers also to ensure that the tourist property is well taken care of, that we adhere to the hotels requirements and be brand ambassadors for the industry and country. It is our duty to support an important industry sector recover and prosper. Tourist establishments could make complaints against such guests who neither care for the property nor adhere to stated requirements of the establishments and SLTDA will take necessary action against such guests, the SLTDA said.

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Comments - 13

MirakRajBanda Tuesday, 18 January 2022 12:23 PM

then please take action against Shangri La, Hambantota.

Ordinary Srilankan Tuesday, 18 January 2022 12:34 PM

Please rectify the discriminatory parking allocation at Sigiriya too.

Janaka de Silva Tuesday, 18 January 2022 12:41 PM

Main problem in Mirissa

Shanker Tuesday, 18 January 2022 12:55 PM

All this time they were surviving with locals now this, ungrateful people

Rizan Mansoor Tuesday, 18 January 2022 01:42 PM

Well, I have seen toilets reserved for foreigners in certain railway stations! Isn't that discrimination!

Dam Tuesday, 18 January 2022 01:50 PM

That's good. However, also may have a point that I could say is "Some" locals either highly conneted or rich category create unethical issues in those hotels or resorts that incoveniet the foreigners. To avoid such cases SLTDA must support those owners not take sides to punish the real culprits who misbehaves

Gayan Tuesday, 18 January 2022 02:05 PM

An example should be made and shared through media. Otherwise warnings aren't sufficient.

Gb Tuesday, 18 January 2022 02:34 PM

Happened to me in unawatuna, hotels had rooms but only took single females like my friend or foreigners, had to travel to 6 different hotels to find a room, I was laughing when there were no tourists during covid serves them right, for alienating local tourists

Karu Tuesday, 18 January 2022 03:02 PM

Please sort out the parking issue at Kataragama. One country one law isn't applicable here. Vatti kade goons make it an unpleasant experience for the devotees.

Gert Jan, the Netherlands Tuesday, 18 January 2022 03:42 PM

Do you really think foreign tourists want to be treated in this favorish way? I am sure most tourists from Europe don't like this discriminatory actions at all. It sounds like apartheid too much.

Miese Wilhelmine Tuesday, 18 January 2022 04:20 PM

Tourists/Foreigners also get discriminated by paying the higher prices vs. Locals how is that fair?

Anton Weerasinghe Tuesday, 18 January 2022 05:55 PM

Our local tourists should know how to behave themself in a holiday resort. Our local tourists make a nuisance of themself after a couple of drinks, they want others to take notice of themself by starting a baila session or they will get into conflicts with the management. I have witnessed these ugly incidents in many places.

Sam Silva Tuesday, 18 January 2022 08:40 PM

Very true.

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Sri Lanka Tourism to get tough on ’Foreigners Only’ policy

Comments - 13

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