Sri Lanka implements mandatory star ratings for tourist hotels to upgrade standards of the leisure sector
Sri Lanka has reportedly implemented the mandatory star ratings and over two dozen tourist hotels have been awarded stars at a ceremony in Colombo following inspections of some hotels by regulators.
According to a local media report, Shangri-La hotel in Colombo and Araliya Green City in Nuwara Eliya were among five hotels which were given plaques at a ceremony in Colombo.
Anantaya Resort and Spa in Passikudah, Anantara Peace Haven Resort in Tangalle, and RIU Hotel in Ahungalle were the others who received five star plaques, the media report has stated.
Tissa Warnasuriya Chairman of the classification committee has reportedly said it was not their intention to act like policemen.
“We tried to give hoteliers that maximum classification to hoteliers that we can afford to give,” he has said.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga has been quoted as saying in the media that hotels that were given ratings can reapply when missing requirement was completed, and the new ratings would be given in a short time.
Chandana Wijeratne, Director for Standards and Quality Assurance at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has told the media that efforts would be made to give the new rating within a month.
The media report further stated that some advocates of a market based economy, see mandatory ratings as a move to re-regulate the economy by the state.
OSL take:
The granting of star ratings would standardize as well as further develop the leisure sector in Sri Lanka. The government is engaged in an aggressive campaign to promote tourism in global markets including the promotion of off-season tourism in Sri Lanka. The tourism sector has recorded a continuous growth in the past few years. While there are many international hotel brands that have entered Sri Lanka, there are also many more improvements being carried out to uplift the tourism sector in the country. Therefore, foreign businesses/investors could look at exploring investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20180726/Z_1 |