In preparation to increase Tourism arrivals, Sri Lanka Association of Tour Operators (SLAITO) together with Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) rolled out a training on Safe & Secure protocols to be followed by chauffeurs. These are drivers who have not been licenced by SLTDA for various reasons, but some of them with many years of experience.
SLAITO has run these training sessions over two weeks conducting several programs and training 957 chauffeurs, coach drivers and coach assistants.
The project was initiated by SLAITO President Thilak Weerasinghe, SLAITO Past President Mahen Kariyawasan and spearheaded by Paddy Paul, ably assisted by Darshana Cabraal and Charith de Alwis, all being SLAITO Executive Board members, with technical support by SLAITO Youth President Maxome Wickramasinghe and his team providing technical support, and registration assistance from the Chamber Secretariat. The training of 957 persons was largely carried out free for all freelance drivers employed by companies across the board – small, medium and large in the ‘One Industry One Voice’ forum, which includes ASMET, TAASL, SLAPCEO and many others. The program was conducted at the Chamber of Commerce and SLITHM Auditorium.
Darshana and Charith spent a substantial time preparing a detailed and clear presentation on protocols to be followed from arrival to departure of a tourist. Training was conducted in both English and Sinhala to ensure that participants understood their responsibility and role in the new norm.
Several questions and clarifications were raised, and the trainers took time to explain the need to enforce the regulations set out by the Health Ministry to ensure tourists and Sri Lankans are protected at all costs. At the end of the training a brief written document was required by SLTDA for evaluation and issuance of Safe & Secure certification.
SLAITO considers this investment as a long term investment to assist the SLTDA to bring all service providers to the formal sector, by continuing to explore ways and means to eventually licence all chauffeurs by SLTDA via SLITHM.
SLAITO thanked SLTDA, in particular Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya and his team, for their continued support to the industry and in particular to SLAITO.
Source : FT
