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

• “It’s our citizens who have supported our industry right throughout. For that, as industry stakeholders, we should be grateful,

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said that action have been taken against some tourist establishments for practicing ‘Foreigners Only’ policy in the country.  

The SLTDA said that they have 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 any 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 license, including informing travellers and notifying online travel agencies to abstain from taking bookings if they are found to have been discriminatory.  

The SLTDA said that domestic tourists have 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 travellers 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 to 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.  

• They would suspend or cancel license, including informing travellers and  notifying online travel agencies to abstain from taking bookings