Northern Province Tourism Bureau launches ‘Real North’ programme to promote tourism in the North.
The Northern Province Tourism Bureau (NPTB) of Sri Lanka is to revive local and international tourism in the country’s Northern Province through the ‘Real North’ tourism promotion initiative. The programme will cover the Northern Province comprising the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, and Mannar, and the 7 islands of Delft, Kayts, Karaitivu, Nainativu, Eluvaitivu, Punkudutivu and Analaitivu.
The NPTB comes under the purview of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Local Government of the Northern Provincial Council.
According to reports, the ‘Real North’ programme is expected to see a well-coordinated, multi-pronged approach to develop the tourism potential of the Northern Province and will be supported by the participation and involvement of domestic and international air travel services, Destination Management Companies, train services, airlines, ferry service operators, infrastructure developers, etc. The programme will also be supported by a promotion and marketing campaign locally and internationally to achieve the NPTB’s vision to be recognised as the best regional destination for diverse, authentic and untouched experiences, while uplifting the sustainable socio-economic condition of the Northern Province. Each district in the Northern Province will be re-branded as – ‘Real Jaffna’, ‘Real Mullaitivu’, ‘Real Mannar’, ‘Real Kilinochchi’, and ‘Real Vavuniya’.
“We have developed a strategic plan with short, medium, and long-term objectives that aim to portray the natural and scenic beauty, and the traditional Sri Lankan hospitality and warmth of the people in the North to the world and the rest of Sri Lanka. Several initiatives have been identified to be rolled out to achieve our objectives including conducting awareness sessions both locally and internationally. The Northern Province is home to numerous attractions such as the Ketheeswaram temple in Mannar, Nagadipa in Jaffna, the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil, the Jaffna Fort, Keerimalai Tank, etc.,” NPTB Chairman Sunil Dissanayake has been quoted as saying in the local media.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is on the revival path after facing many challenges in the past few years including the global pandemic. With the slow yet steady increase in tourist arrivals to the country, local tourism authorities are continuing to explore new tourism concepts as well as new destinations in the country to be promoted. It is I this backdrop that the Northern Province Tourism Bureau is looking at promoting Sri Lanka’s Northern Province as a new and emerging tourist destination. The many attractions in the province as well as the unique food identified with the area have all presented the Northern Province as an area with much growth potential as a tourism destination. Sri Lanka’s overall tourism industry is on an expansion path opening up many new business/investment opportunities in the country. The country has received much exposure in the international media as a must visit tourist destination and has also been listed among the top 10 island destinations. All these are indicative of the growing business potential in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore the growing opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, especially in the leisure and hospitality sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/08082022/X_1 |