Sri Lankan government to develop seafront infrastructure to promote boat building and nautical tourism
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema has reportedly said that the country is developing seafront infrastructure and regulations to promote boat building and nautical tourism.
“The boat building industry is a billion-dollar industry and Sri Lanka should take full advantage of this emerging trend,” Samarawickrema has told a news conference to announce the launch of the island’s annual boat show.
The Boat Show Sri Lanka 2018, which this year will also include a boating festival, is scheduled to be held during October 26 and 28, 2018 at the yacht marina in the Galle Port.
“This year’s event will be organized with a novel concept by adding a boating festival to showcase the country’s capabilities in marine tourism and recreational boating, yachting and boat building for export,” Samarawickrema has said.
“This event is a good example of a ‘Whole of Government (WoG) approach as all government stakeholders of the sector, such as the ministries of ports and shipping, industry and commerce, tourism, and Sri Lanka Ports Authority have joined the Export Development Board and Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Lanka (BTI) in organising the show.”
Samarawickrema has reportedly said that his Ministry, the Export Development Board (EDB) and Board of Investment (BOI) were working closely with the industry on budget proposals to promote boat building and nautical tourism.
According to the Minister, the work includes developing appropriate seafront infrastructure and regulations, and registration and standardization covering the entire value chain of the industry.
Samarawickrema has also noted that the newly developed National Export Strategy has identified boat building as one of the focus sectors to be promoted in the overall strategy.
He has also added that there is “massive potential” for nautical tourism due to the high marine diversity of the country.
OSL take:
The statement by Sri Lanka’s Minister for International Trade and Strategic Development that the government is looking at developing seafront infrastructure and regulations to promote boat building and nautical tourism has opened up investment opportunities for foreign businesses/investors in the fields of tourism and industries. Interested foreign businesses/investors could look at opportunities in engaging in nautical tourism in Sri Lanka given the growing tourism industry in the country as well as the new industry of boat building. The Boat Show this year could be an interesting venue for interested businesses to get an idea about the sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20180628/Z_5 |