The Ministry of Tourism and the Sub Committee appointed by Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda on ‘Pilgrim Tourism’ recently organized a meeting to explore the possibility of working together with tour operators to evolve a new concept in ‘Pilgrim Tourism.’


The prime objective of a new concept called ‘Buddhist Pilgrim Travel Trail’ is to develop links between Sri Lanka and India and later extend this to encompass SAARC, South East and the East Asia region. Large numbers of Sri Lankans are visiting overseas specially India and other places of religious significance without any promotion and this part of travel is totally handled by the private sector. The campaign is also aimed at attracting travellers from the region to visit Sri Lankan sites of religious interest.


The new committee has been set up by Mr Moragoda with the task of setting standards and conducting workshops for the tourist industry for the ‘Buddhist Pilgrim Travel Trail’ programme, to improve their professionalism and educate them on how to deal with such travellers or travel requests.


The committee invited sector expertise and members of the tourism industry to discuses issues relevant to this important sector. Mr. B. Sirisena Cooray, Committee Chairman of the Buddhist Pilgrim Travel Trail, Mr. George Michael Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Renton De Alwis Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism, and more than 60 Buddhist Pilgrim Travel Trail resource personnel participated at this meeting.


This new sub committee is expected to produce a lot of jobs and earn more foreign exchange for the country.  Mr. Cooray, addressing the gathering, said if a proper programme is develop and implemented more job opportunities could be created and this would also bring in much needed foreign exchange to the country. This is the first time in the history of Ministry that a concept of this nature is developed with the active participation of the Buddhist Pilgrim Travel Trail tour operators. A common agenda will be drawn up that will help to uplift the services for this segment of travel.

 
Travel and Tour experts in the sector of pilgrim tours made several recommendations and raised several important issues that should to be looked into by the Government or relevant authorities.

Among their suggestions: facilitation to obtain visas easily; diplomatic missions to be educated and updated in this regard, make available and distribute information on the key destinations visited by Sri Lankan pilgrim travellers, and registration of service providers under the Ministry. At the request of the industry, a working committee was appointed to discuss and prepare a work plan on the issues and suggestions.