- Tourism Minister highlights need to upgrade current diplomas to degree programs to build capacity
- Instructs authorities to introduce preliminary diploma courses targeting youth
- Says important to eliminate social stigma attached to tourism industry, must give due recognition to those engaged
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says steps will be taken to establish tourism and hotel management institutes at the district level, whilst highlighting the need to upgrade the current diplomas to degree programs to build capacity going forward. The Tourism Ministry plans to open four new institutes within the year, keeping in line with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s policy framework of ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour, the Minister said during a progress review meeting held at Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) recently.
SLITHM, is the only and leading institution in the country to produce professionals in the field of tourism and hotel trade which comes under the purview of the Tourism Ministry. The main institution is located at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Building on Galle Road, while branches of the institution are in Kandy, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Bandarawela, Koggala, Ratnapura, Pasikudah and Jaffna.
The Minister said that discussions are already underway with the University Grants Commission (UGC) to upgrade current diploma programs up to degree level programs. He also instructed the authorities to introduce preliminary diploma courses targeting youth who are not in the GCE Ordinary Level but are employed in the field and are interested in the tourism industry, in addition to the existing courses.
According to the President’s policy statement, it is estimated that the number of skilled and unskilled service providers in the tourism sector will be increased to one million. “It is important to eliminate the social stigma that has been built around the industry and those who pursue it. There should be a change in the perspective of the tourism sector and due recognition given to those engaged in the industry, as they do a great service in building an image for the country with hospitable people,” he added.
The Minister also said a new methodology has already been planned to create awareness programs at school levels.
He also instructed that the awarding of certificates should be carried out without delay and that the programs should be started soon.
Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi, Additional Secretaries Waruna Samaradiwakara and Deepa Sannasuriya, SLITHM Director General Nadeeka Wataliyadda and a number of officials were also present at the occasion.
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