SL must chart its own path in tourism: SLTDA chief

► SAYS NOT FAIR TO COMPARE SRI LANKA WITH FAMOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS SUCH AS MALAYSIA AND THAILAND ► NOTES THE TOURISM GROWTH STRATEGY MUST PRIORITISE SUSTAINABILITY OVER VOLUME ► ASSERTS OVER-RELIANCE ON LUXURY TOURISM COULD HURT DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES

- By CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA

Sri Lanka must forge its own path in global tourism rather than attempting to compete with high-volume travel destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia, the head of the country's tourism authorities said on Thursday, as the island nation prepares to host its flagship travel fair next month.

"It is not fair to compare Sri Lanka with famous tourist destinations. Those countries are among the top ten places in the world for tourist arrivals, and Sri Lanka has a very different tourism industry," said Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam.

He made these comments while speaking at a press conference ahead of the 12th 'Sancharaka Udawa' tourism fair, scheduled to take place on 2324 May in Colombo.

The two-day event is expected to bring together travel operators, hoteliers, and government officials to chart the future of Sri Lanka's post-crisis tourism sector.