Tourism Master Plan Sri LankaB&.s B86 Tourist Hotels Code The following amendments to the Tourist Hotels Code are proposed : the committee set up by CTB to review the existing grading criteria should seek to produce a simplified, rational system which will facilitate understanding and application. The criteria should include requirements for facilities for the disabled and specified provision of vehicle parking. The criteria should reflect the differences in requirements for city centre business hotels and resort hotels; classification should be mandatory. Existing hotels not meeting requirements should be given a specified time period to effect the necessary improvements and, if they do not meet this, they should be subject to a closure order or suspension of operations. Legislation should be reviewed accordingly; penalties for offences should be reviewed and increased, with regular subsequent reviews; when the revised classification system is finalised, CTB should launch it to the private sector through a promotion and awareness campaign that clearly sets out the objectives and benefits of the system and how it relates to the overall plan for the sector; the Government is committed to increasing the market orientation of the economy. It is recommended that hotel prices should be determined by market forces without statutory intervention. Guide Lecturers Code Given the importance of Shri Lanka’s cultural and other tourist attractions, and the need to expand and improve the provision of tour guide services, it is recommended that CTB carry out a detailed review into tour guide provision, grading, entry requirements, training and necessary revisions to the Guide Lecturers Code. Training requirements are covered in Section B7.22. SECTION B.9 SOCIAL ASPECTS B91 Socially Acceptable Tourism Guidelines Based on the research and recommendations documented in the Social Aspects Technical Report (Volume III, Section 9). 142B.9.2 The following guidelines for socially acceptable tourism are proposed : + social impact assessments should be required for all tourism projects; socio-economic benefits of the tourism industry must be shown to the people through promotional campaigns; development goals for the locality should be based on those set by the residents themselves, including local business interests; promotion of local attractions should be fully supported by the local community, particularly in places of religious or historic significance or where the local way of life is presented to tourists; local opportunities for recreation and leisure should have their quality and integrity maintained by co-ordinated public and private sector efforts; greater involvement of local people in the way in which local tourism is developed, so that their traditions and lifestyle will be respected, should be encouraged; local capital, entrepreneurial ability and labour should be encouraged to invest in local tourism development: community participation - opportunities should be provided to obtain broad based community participation in tourist events and activities; . destination areas should be encouraged to adopt and refine themes and events that reflect their history, lifestyles and local environment; . improvements to the locality to ameliorate any development induced problems should be undertaken before proceeding with any further increases in tourism as Social Impact Assessment Potential developers should be required to submit a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as part of their application for project approval. Pro- forma SIA requirements should be drawn up including the following : Catchment Area - the catchment area for the local community will need to be carefully defined taking account of the propensity of people to migrate in search of work, especially in poor rural areas. Even in sparsely populated areas there will be social impact; 143