- Incentives must be given to those bringing foreign exchange revenue
- We are in the recovery year this year, may get 3 million arrivals, US$ 5 billion revenue will be an issue due to lack of monitoring
- ‘Thema Collection’ suits the latest trend amongst travellers seeking what is authentically Sri Lankan
Chandra Wickramasinghe, Chairman and Managing Director of Connaissance de Ceylan & Thema Collection, a tourism Industry specialist who has over four decades of experience in the industry sits on Sunday Observer Explorer’s hot seat this week.
His concepts of eco- cultural tourism, Ayurveda and sustainability is what transformed into the ‘Thema Collection’ which he proudly describes as ‘authentically Sri Lankan’ has gained much popularity and revolutionised the industry with many firsts.
New Tourism Advisory
Committee member
Being one of the leading inbound tour operators for French and Spanish markets, Chandra Wickramasinghe has steadily added on properties across the country to his portfolio, now numbering fourteen as the ‘Thema Collection’.
He emphasizes on his philosophy. “I want to be able to take people on an intimate journey, through history, landscapes, beauty and ignite their love and appreciation of all things Sri Lankan”.
He stresses the importance for Sri Lanka to preserve its’ natural beauty without being consumed by artificial constructions. His expertise and thoughts on developing the industry are many and it does not stop short at his properties but spans to every corner of the country and for the betterment of its people..
In January this year Chandra Wickramasinghe made history opening the doors of his latest addition to the Thema Collection, ‘Amba Yaalu’ an eco- friendly, 33 room hotel which is located on the banks of the Kandalama Reservoir that became a trail blazer as Sri Lanka’s first hotel fully staffed only by women.
Other ‘Thema Collection’ properties are, namely Aliya -Sigiriya, Maalu Maalu -Pasikuda, Kithala -Tissa Yala, Mountbatten Kandy, Scottish Planter, Tea & Experience -MandaramNuwera, Parangi –Weligama Bay, Wild Glamping -Knuckles, Wild Glamping –Gal Oya, Ayurvie Weligama, Ayurvie Sigiriya. Vis Ta Vie -Mirissa, Waraka Udawalawe.
The Sunday Observer Explorer had more to ask the Tourism Industry veteran.
Q: How has the season been this year? How did the fourteen properties of ‘Thema’ Collection, fare?
“Very good. February and March were the Best, since 2018 and I could even say we did even better than 2018”.
Q: What would you say contributed to this upswing steady growth the last few months?
“The smooth transition of Govt. without upheavals during elections last year and the stability thereafter helped. And the Govt.’s solving the blockage of the visa issue was immensely a contributing factor for the visitors to arrive with much ease.”
Q: How do you perceive the current status of Tourism?
“This year is the recovery year after 2018 where we had 2.3 Million tourist arrivals. Last year we had 2 Million Arrivals. We may get the 3 million targeted tourists or something close to that this year. This will be approximately 30% growth on arrivals against the 4% global international tourism growth. Head count is important to reach the forex revenue target of $5 billion. However, there are many reasons why we might not achieve this.
“Thelocal informal sector& the foreign illegal sector are some of them. More than 50% of the accommodation falls into these categories. Where there is no monitoring on their income or their statutory contributions such as VAT, TDL, EPF, ETF etc. whatsoever.Central bank & the Ministry of Tourism should take strict action to streamline & monitor this.”
Foreign Exchange Inward Remittance Bank Report
“The reason for our economic crisis was our empty foreign currency reserves.
“As far as tourism is concerned, we need to reintroduce the inward foreign currency report to obtain the tourist board license as done sometimes back. Similarly, we also need to introduce a system to monitor foreign employment income & the export income.
“Furthermore, the government should introduce an incentive system to motivate forex earners to bring in more revenue. “
Q:What are the areas faced with obstacles?
“Tourism Product Development is very difficult due to the cumbersome approvals & red tape of different government departments.
“80% of the land reserves belong to the government, hence its very difficult to find land for the development of new hotel projects.
“SL Tourism, LRC, Mahaweli Authority, Forest & Wildlife departments must come out with a land bank to lease out empty & nonproductive suitable lands for tourism development.
“Government needs to introduce new deregulation practices to create a conducive business environment for tourism. “
Q: What are your views on the need to attract the high end market?
“No country promotes only the high-end market. The multiplying effect of tourism is mostly from the low end market through back packers & ordinary travelers.”
“At the moment we are getting more numbers of this rather than mid & high-end guests.”
“My proposal is to get 75% mid & high-end market with 25% low end & backpackers’ market.”
“In order to attract the high-endmarket, you need to create the right environment, upgrade human resources, reduce plastic & other pollution, reduce carbon emissions etc.”
“This will get the destination more popular & attractmore mid & high end tourists.”
Q: Govt. has announced it is gearing up for a Govt. Private sector unified global campaign?
“No global campaign was done by Sri Lanka Tourism for the last 15 years. This is purely due to the change of governments & the lack of tourism policy in the country.”
“There are enough funds collected through TDL & Tourism Cess for this purpose. However,this has been unutilized for years.”
Q:What are your views on the attempts made to make Sri Lanka an all season travel destination with emphasis to be on lesser known areas?
“Season & off Season is the old thinking of Ceylon tourism. During the winter in Europe, to escape the cold, tour & charter operators brought holiday makers to suit their seasonal demands. “
“30 years of ethnic war & closure of North, East & Arugambay Area worsened the seasonal tourism pattern.”
“The North & East coast can be promoted from February to October. Now you can see different areas of the country filling up with little seasonal variations. The East Coast filling up as a beach destination. Arugambay / Kumana as a surf & wildlife destination, Jaffna Peninsula & other areas as round-trip destinations. Ella is famous all season “
Q: How do you identify your 14 ‘Thema’ Properties?
“Unique Sri Lankan Experiences’ is our moto. Óur 14 properties all vary in experiences and are located in different parts of the country. It’s a collection of Culture, Nature, Adventure, Ayurvedha and wellness. Each property has its own character quite distinct from another. It is unique from the architecture, environment, experience & hospitality. It is all fully Sri Lankanised. That is what travelers are looking for.”
“Maalu Maalu,Passikudah–my first investment in the war-torn East Coast is the best example for economic reconciliation”
“Amba Yaalu Kandalama – was the first female led & operated hotel in Sri Lanka or even in the world”
“We promote lesser-known destinations such as Mandaram Nuwara with Tea & Experience Factory, Galoya – with Wild Glamping Galoya and Knuckles with Wild Glamping Knuckles.”
“Through our sub-brand Ayurvie namely Ayurvie Sigiriya & Ayurvie Weligama, we promote Authentic Sri Lankan Ayurveda, which offers guests, wholistic cure through ancient, time proven practices / remedies.”
“We offer different experiences for different clients. Our aim is to create not just a hotel, but an experientialtravel with the participation of the host area & the betterment of livelihood in the region, preserving the nature & culture of the respective area.”
“Chandra Wickramasinghe’s son Maxime Wickramasinghe is the Director Business Development of the Thema Collection while his nephew, Chamin Wickramasinghe is CEO for the group. They are supported by an excellent team who understands the PPPs (People – Planet – Profits). “
Q:Last but not least- the star addition to your Thema Collection, as I see it is the latest, ‘Amba Yaalu’ that opened the doors in January this year, which made history being a hotel with all- female staff. What inspired you to make that happen?
“For a country where the third largest foreign exchange earner is tourism our work force only included about 10% females. With the crisis Sri Lanka faced over the last couple of years, women have found it hard to make ends meet. An income source for themselves proved to be vital in order to ensure families were provided for. However, due to the lack of job opportunities available within the country, we see thousands of females flying to the Middle East for work.”
“I was inspired by my mother who single-handedly raised me and my seven siblings & even my wife who has been with me through thick & thin. I have identified the immense potential and resilience of women.”
“Amba Yaalu Kandalama address the disparity within the industry & has led us to break the traditional gender barriers in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. It fosters community development by providing meaningful employment opportunities to women in the region demonstrating that women can excel in every aspect of hotel operations inspiring similar initiatives nationwide.”
“If we lobby for change then we should be an instrument for same.”
Q: In conclusion, your words to live by?
“Do something new and do it now!”
