Sri Lanka’s first-ever awareness campaign for three-wheel drivers on the importance of reaping long-term benefits from tourists rather than looking at immediate short-term gains was conducted by Nkar Travels and Tours to coincide with the World Tourism Day.
The campaign motivated over 1,500 three wheel owners and drivers, mainly in the Colombo and suburban areas on several important issues pertaining to the welfare of foreign tourists who are using three wheelers.
Speaking to Daily News Business, Nkar Travels and Tours Managing Director Nilmin Nanayakkara said the objective of conducting such a programme for the first time in the country was to educate owners and drivers of three wheelers on the importance of giving foreign travelers the maximum protection during their tours in their three wheelers.
He said they were educated and motivated on avoiding reckless driving, over charging passengers, behaving in unruly manner in the presence of passengers, committing sexual harassment on passengers, using drugs and consuming liquor while driving and avoiding drug promotions to passengers.
Commenting further on the event, Nanayakkara said the campaign ended very successfully and even other tour operators warmly welcomed the programme and considered it to be a social responsibility project to support both tour operators and passengers, especially foreign travelers.
The programme was highly admired even by people on the streets. It was also a pleasant sight to see the three wheel drivers showing an interest and enthusiasm.
On the way, staff of Nkar stopped them for a short briefing about the programme. They issued hand-outs, printed in all three languages which were displayed on the vehicles.
A senior official in a private tour company commended the programme and said that this is the kind of support and guidance all tour operators including three wheel owners want from responsible industry partners.
The programme was highly admired by Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Mihira Liyanarachchi, Tourist Police OIC Prabath Vidanagama and Kolllupitiya Police OIC Priyadharshana Silva.
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