Sri Lankan government to look at promoting sports tourism next year
Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are to look at submitting fresh proposals for the promotion of sports tourism in a bid to revive both travel and sports sectors that were hampered by Covid-19 pandemic.
Sri Lanka’sTourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga is to present to the Cabinet the case to promote sports tourism in Sri Lanka for next year, in a joint Cabinet paper along with Sri Lanka’s Sports and Health Ministries.
Following the successful conclusion of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), the Ministries of Tourism, Sports and Health have agreed to formulate a joint programme to promote sports tourism with a comprehensive event calendar for next year, a local media report stated.
Accordingly, a high level committee consisting of the Secretaries of the three Ministries has been appointed to prepare a comprehensive report within two weeks to incorporate sports events into Sri Lanka Tourism event calendar, the Daily FT has reported.
This is following a meeting of top level tourism, sports and health sector officials with Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga along with Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Ministry Secretaries held early this week.
During the meeting the Tourism Minister has reportedly pointed out the need to implement this programme without being bound by rules and regulations.
“Promotion of sports tourism will provide the right impetus to revive the industry post-pandemic. The joint promotion will also help us to position ourselves on the world map again and achieve the targets of the tourism sector to actively contribute to economic development in the next year,” Ranatunga has told the Daily FT.
He has also said that sports-based tourism was one of the most sought after ways in which to attract tourists in the world today.
With the experience gained from the LPL tournament as well as with the recommendations of the Health officials, Rajapaksa has said Tourism and Sports Ministries hoped to formulate an integrated plan to promote sports tourism in the country.
He has further noted that the Sports Ministry had already prepared an annual sports diary and would implement it with the assistance of the Tourism Ministry in accordance with the health guidelines.
He said that international level sports competitions would be organised island-wide next year to attract tourists, subject to strict health guidelines.
“There are 80 major sports tournaments lined up to be held globally next year and we are also eyeing on several events to be held in Sri Lanka,” Rajapaksa has added.
The sports tournaments to be held in Sri Lanka next year include cricket, football, rugby, kabadi, beach volleyball and netball. In addition to the Asia Cup, cricket teams from England, Bangladesh, India and South Africa will tour Sri Lanka in 2021.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country until the Covid 19 pandemic restricted travel. However, the country’s tourism industry has been resilient to external shocks and is expected to return to normalcy fast. Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities have continuously conducted promotional campaigns as well as new tourism ventures to pursue. Sri Lanka has been listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications and has received the safety and hygienic certification that would definitely attract foreign travellers as soon as travel restrictions are lifted. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry shows much promise in a quick rebound as well as new tourism ventures. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore business opportunities in the country’s tourism industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/22122020/Z_1 |