Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Minister offers support to Colombo hoteliers to expand range of enjoyable activities in the city
Tourism Development Minister of Sri Lanka John Amaratunga has reportedly offered to support hoteliers in Colombo to recommence nightclub operations to attract more tourists to the commercial capital and provide them with a wider range of enjoyable activities.
“Colombo hoteliers constantly complain that tourists don’t stay in the city. Why don’t you open up the nightclubs? Unless there are attractions, events and entertainment, it is difficult to retain tourists in Colombo,” Amaratunga has said at a news conference in Colombo.
The Minister has noted that there were no restrictions to open up nightclubs in hotels and has called on hoteliers to resume operations not till 9 p.m. but at least till midnight.
“The trend is that tourists are looking at informal sector places in Arugam Bay, Ella and down south, which have become popular among tourists visiting the country due to the lack of entertainment activities in Colombo,” Amaratunga has noted.
The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has welcomed the Minister’s proposal and has said this would not only help hoteliers in increasing occupancy rate and income, but also encourage local talent and generate more job opportunities in the entertainment business.
“We are fully supportive of the proposal and some of the member hotels have already resumed operations. This will enable us to make Colombo exciting again,” THASL President Sanath Ukwatte has told Daily FT.
He pointed out that nightclubs were just one element and there were many more aspects that the hotels could offer in making Colombo a vibrant city again.
OSL take:
Along with the continuous growth in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, stakeholders including the country’s government are now looking at improving entertainment facilities in hotels in the commercial capital, Colombo. The increase in tourists to the country has resulted in many tourists being concentrated in Colombo and improving the nightlife in the city could further attract the foreigners to the island nation. Therefore, foreign businesses/investors could look at investing in improving entertainment and recreational facilities in the city.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20181029/Z_2 |