Effective use of tour guiding in countering Tamil Diaspora: an open source response to LTTE sympathizers

Abstract

Nations in the modernity are more towards the use of the efficacious tool of ‘strategic communication’ on achieving their propaganda goals. ‘Public diplomacy’ is a part of strategic communication which is an alternative process to traditional diplomacy. Every government needs to develop a public diplomacy arm to address target audiences in order to deliver its national narrative. The recent military defeat created bewilderment in the LTTE friendly Tamil Diaspora and created problems for their existence. Since then the LTTE strategy was changed and the use of media and cyberspace increased against the Sri Lankan national interest. Sri Lanka is a tourist destination. There are many visitors coming to Sri Lanka from those countries where LTTE operate their propaganda mechanism. The author perceives tour guiding as an area with a significant potential to send across a countering message to the communities of those countries. An effective tour guide has the ability to become the most reliable and friendly individual to the tourists in a strange land. He who wins the hearts and minds of his clients will be able to convey a more grass root level idea about his motherland with a credible sense. This paper intends to discuss the constructive role that tour guides can play in building Sri Lankan image in the International arena. The author suggests seeking ideas from the stakeholders in tourism industry and defence and foreign policymakers in order to build a national narrative for Sri Lanka. The methodology of the paper will be based on a qualitative approach by analyzing the opinions and experiences of tour guides and other relevant stakeholders. The outcome of this paper would open new avenues in countering anti-Sri Lankan propaganda.