Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority expects ferry services to boost tourism in North
The Morning: Despite the surge of Indian tourists to Sri Lanka in 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) anticipates that Northern Tourism will see a major positive impact with the resumption of the Ferry services from 25 February, The Daily Morning Business learnt.
Speaking to The Daily Morning Business, SLTDA Chairman Priantha Fernando stated: “the resume of ferry services will create greater opportunities for employment. Moreover, the SME sector and the local economies will benefit from this.”
Moreover, the Indians typically travel for trade and along with that they’ll spend time touristing the country. The ferry service will have a capacity of 150 passengers with charges per passenger will begin from $ 50 for one way trip and are allowed to carry 100kg.
Additionally, ferry services are less expensive than purchasing airline tickets. The Indian traders may find this way of transportation to be highly popular since it’s just two hours from ferry with a low cost of travel fee, Fernando explained.
Speaking to The Daily Morning Business, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Media Secretary Viraj Abeysinghe stated that the Indian Ferry service stated that they will start by 25th February, “yet they have not sent us a confirmation letter.”
Ferry service between India and Sri Lanka was restarted in October of last year (2023). The passenger ferry ‘Cheriyapani’ has made overall 10 trips from KKS (Kankesanthurai) in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, to Nagapattinam (in Tamil Nadu, India), covering a distance of around 60 nautical miles.
Moreover, this form of transportation has been used by close to 2000 passengers. Yet, it was temporarily halted due to the monsoonal rain, Abeysinghe said.
Civils Daily reports the potential Impact of the Nagapattinam-Jaffna Ferry Service as Boost to Religious Tourism, Economic Benefits, Diplomatic and Bilateral Relations, Infrastructure Development and Promotion of Regional.
Tamil Guardian reports the historical context of the India-Sri Lanka Ferry services is an important step toward resuming the regular ferry service that had been in place until 1981 was taken in 2011 when India and Sri Lanka signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for this particular service.
OSL take:
The strong bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and India have been strengthened through the years through the increasing lines of connectivity between the two countries. The growth in the ties between the two countries spans across many economic sectors with India becoming a key development partner of Sri Lanka while many Indian businesses have also set up operations in Sri Lanka. The close proximity between Sri Lanka and India have also helped Sri Lanka’s growth as an emerging business destination in the South Asian region. It is in such a backdrop that Sri Lanka and India are looking at further boosting trade, tourism and business ties through the re-starting of a ferry service between the two countries. The improved connectivity between the two countries by the proposed ferry service would see the development of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province as well as Sri Lanka’s overall economy. Given the growing ties between the two countries, Indian businesses/investors could explore the expanding business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. With Indian businesses operating in Sri Lanka posting growth and profits, Indian businesses could also look at setting up base in Sri Lanka as well as look at forming partnerships or joint ventures with local businesses with the aim of further expansion.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20240221/Z_1 |