Sri Lanka records increase in tourist arrivals targeting 5 million tourists by 2025
The number of tourists arriving in Sri Lanka has reportedly been on the increase despite the setback suffered in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks in April this year and the number of arrivals is expected to increase further by 2025.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka would be expecting at least a 5 million tourist influx to the country as opposed to the 2 million tourists this year, Resident of City Hotels and Director, Strategic Planning and Development of Ramada Hotel, Colombo M. Shanthikumar has been quoted as saying in the state owned English daily, the Daily News.
Based on the newly elected government’s manifesto, the government would be providing a series of concessions to the hotel industry.
“The previous government charged the Tourism Development Levy, but they never really utilized it for tourism promotion. The present government has already planned to eliminate the Nation Building Tax (NBT) and lower the Value Added Tax (VAT). There were so many plans when it came to marketing, but from April 21up to now, none of it has been implemented due to various reasons. We believe that the present government would not delay the marketing process and that it would give prominence to tourism,” Shanthikumar has told the media.
This is expected to bring US$. 10 billion in revenue, he has said. “With the new leadership, things are looking very positive and I could see a bright future.”
When asked what is expected from the new government to boost the hotel industry, Shanthikumar has said, “What is expected immediately is the promotion of hotels. If not for promotion, the industry would die. Destination promotion in particular, is important. After April 21, there has been no destination promotion at all.”
“Digital promotion and destination promotion is needed to be carried out immediately. There are nearly10,000 formal and informal rooms in city hotels and promotion is a must to reap the maximum benefit from these resources.”
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has shown an impressive return to normalcy following the setback suffered in the Easter Sunday attacks in April. Tourist arrivals to the country are on the increase and Sri Lanka continues to remain as one of the top tourist destinations in many key global travel publications. All these have resulted in the expansion in business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. As noted recently by global investor Mark Mobius, the tourism industry in Sri Lanka has many business/investment opportunities.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/16122019/Z_7 |