Sri Lanka to target US$ 1 billion from tourism industry in 2021
Sri Lanka’s Presidential Task Force on Economic Recovery and Poverty Alleviation Chairman Basil Rajapaksa has reportedly said that the country’s tourism industry should formulate proposals to earn US$ 1 billion from tourism in 2021 and provide vaccine priority to industry employees to boost the sector’s recovery.
Rajapaksa has made this observation while addressing a high-level meeting at Temple Trees on tourism development, which had included Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, State Minister D.V. Chanaka and State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle. The Task Force Head has instructed officials to formulate policies targeting US$ 1 billion in earnings in 2021.
“We cannot depend only on exports to earn revenue. Therefore, it is imperative that the tourism industry is facilitated to function. Industry employees should also be moved up the priority list to get COVID-19 vaccines,” Rajapaksa has been quoted as saying in a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
He has further noted that Sri Lanka cannot fall behind competitive countries that are seeking to resuscitate their tourism industry and should therefore prepare policies to re-attract tourists to the country.
Rajapaksa has added that in a recent survey Sri Lanka was placed among the top ten countries travellers would consider and should leverage on the country’s comparative success in containing Covid-19.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country when the Covid 19 global pandemic stopped global travel. Sri Lanka has been listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications and has received the safety and hygienic certification making the island an attractive destination for post Covid travel. Sri Lanka has opened its borders to foreign travellers under strict health conditions and many international airlines have increased flights to the island due to the increase in travellers. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is once again on the path to recovery. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210215/Z_4 |