Stop terrorising tourists!

26 September 2025 12:03 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 3 Bookmark

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Our fascinating country has been ranked as the number one travel destination for October 2025 by the global travel guide, Time Out. This no doubt has been arrived at taking into consideration the many tourist attractions that our country is endowed with. We promote our golden beaches, historic sites, and a host of enticements including verdant tea plantations and wild life.

Amidst all the promotions that we undertake and the endeavours made to earn foreign exchange through tourism, we should also take stock of the unsavoury experiences that some tourists have been subject to. It was just a few days ago that we heard of the Tangalle police arresting a fisherman for sexually abusing a German tourist on the pretext of showing her crabs in a secluded spot. The Tourist police was alerted and the offender was nabbed. In the recent past, there has been a shameful trend where some tourists, especially those visiting the coastal tourist spots, are being harassed and intimidated.

Such nefarious activities are a slur on the reputation of our country’s hospitality industry and will have an adverse impact globally as social media is brisk and alert to exposing such events. The image of our country which is renowned for its hospitality and warmth is compromised by unscrupulous characters. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority should take all precautions to avert such despicable situations and ensure that tourists are protected from abuse and harassment in our wonderful country, the pearl of the Indian ocean.

Don Peter

Dehiwela

Comments - 3

Sokrates Friday, 26 September 2025 08:42 AM

Even though the Ministry of Tourism has a new minister, the lethargy and laziness of the staff has not changed. Two months ago, I sent an email to the ministry regarding my company's restaurants. I then sent a reminder email every week. So far, I have never received a reply. Vijitha Herath must finally take a hard line and sweep out the incompetent and inefficient employees in his ministry. Without a new, forward-looking administration, the new government cannot change this country for the better.

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Eyes wide open Friday, 26 September 2025 02:14 PM

Aren’t you the German who claimed that it is because you are German that your business is thriving here; race, rather than personal ability? If that’s the case, count yourself fortunate to be allowed to earn money here! (However competent, and proficient in the German language, Asians face hostility in Germany!) Here in Sri Lanka, take the rough with the smooth, and remember that the Ministry of Tourism might have more pressing issues to attend to than your personal email!

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Danny Saturday, 27 September 2025 06:22 PM

Let’s accept a social issue of viewing the westerners through the Hollywood movies that made the local to think that westerners, specially female are always ready for sex etc without realising that they are normal human like everyone else. This made these abuses. Those who work with the tourists must be educated that cinema is an unrealistic, dream world and far from reality.

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