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Not planning night tourism in the dark

16 Sep 2022

State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage’s statement that Sri Lanka does not offer entertainment activities after around 10 p.m., and that therefore, there is a need to develop a night economy through building nightlife-related activities, especially for tourists, has attracted an interesting array of mixed responses. While some perceived how economically beneficial such an initiative could prove, some raised the usual sentiment of how such initiatives could damage local culture and tradition. Some also questioned whether such initiatives should receive the Government’s attention amidst the ongoing economic crisis.  However, the dire state of the economy, which has a great deal to do with its depleted foreign reserves, is a valid reason to initiate a tourism-centric nightlife culture in Sri Lanka. Despite this avenue having massive potential, for decades, some sectors of the tourism industry, such as nightlife activities, have not been developed adequately. Entertainment-related activities that tourists can engage in at night, especially past midnight, have thus far been limited to a handful of nightclubs and pubs, a few areas with street food stalls, and parties mostly confined to the Southern parts of the island.  However, it should be noted that Sri Lanka is not in a position where it can build an entirely new culture from scratch, and utilising its existing resources for such a project with no prior experience or assurance of results is a risky move. Therefore, creating a nightlife culture should be initiated with three things in mind. Firstly, such an endeavour should be in line with the existing agenda for reviving tourism. In terms of priorities, the timeline, laws, policies and practices, targeted clientele, and financial and other resources, the initiation of such an endeavour should not only be feasible, but should also be built on a stable foundation. This endeavour should not require the country to disregard its existing priorities and plans or to adopt measures that may have an adverse impact on the same. Secondly, both the authorities and the general public must understand that this is a long-term endeavour, and thereby not a project that could be completed within this Government’s tenure or within a specific period of time. Accordingly, the relevant laws, policies, and practices should be designed in a way that this endeavour is gradually built over time, by successive Governments. This step-by-step approach would also be a good learning experience for Sri Lanka if it seriously wants to compete with countries like Thailand, the UAE, or Malaysia, which have a strong nightlife culture playing a vital role in their tourism sectors. Most importantly, if Sri Lanka is to build a tourism-centric nightlife culture, it has to focus on clearly defined targets, which include what type of tourists the country can attract in a short period of time and what sort of services should be available to attract them. For example, a sex tourism-based nightlife culture is unlikely to thrive in Sri Lanka, and therefore is not a service that this nightlife culture should promote, whereas Sri Lanka has a lot to offer in terms of street food, beach activities, and culture. While building a tourism-centric nightlife culture may prove a challenging task, especially when it comes to getting the support of the mostly conservative general public, in the process of rebuilding the country, looking at innovative options cannot hurt. With a proper plan and commitment, Sri Lanka could certainly benefit from such an initiative in a way that does not negatively affect the local community and their sentiments.


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