Sri Lanka’s Ratmalana Airport to be promoted as an entertainment flying hub
Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranathunga has reportedly stated that the Ratmalana Airport is to be promoted as an entertainment flying hub.
“It is active under the Government’s programme to develop the Ratmalana Airport as a domestic aviation hub. Accordingly, new local air routes to tourist attractions will be identified and new runways suitable for aircraft will be identified,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has been quoted as saying in The Morning.
According to the report, it is also expected to ease the barriers to flying to such locations and the Ratmalana International Airport is expected to be promoted in a number of new areas.
The Minister has further noted that the Ratmalana Airport will be promoted for entertaining flights, weddings, photography flights, dramas and cinematic flights.
In addition, promotions are expected to be launched at the Ratmalana Airport for international commercial and corporate flights as well as private jet operations with action to be taken to bring high income earners to Sri Lanka.
The Ratmalana Airport also has facilities for technical parking services for private aircraft such as refueling and the Minister has stated that he hoped to promote it in the world in the future as well.
The Ratmalana Airport, which was completely closed due to the spread of Covid 19, was reopened to the public on January 1 in accordance with health guidelines.
According to Ranatunga, with the vaccination, domestic flights that were stopped at the Ratmalana Airport are expected to be resumed and the charging of parking and parking charges as an incentive has been temporarily suspended for a period of one year. In addition, the airport service tax levied on passengers has been suspended for a period of one year.
The Minister has added that steps have been taken to expedite the development process of the Ratmalana Airport along with the control of Covid-19.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s aviation sector is a hotspot for business/investment opportunities given the country’s geographical positioning in the Indian ocean. The island is fast becoming a business hub in the South Asian region as well as a must visit tourist destination according to several leading global travel publications. Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is back on track after the restrictions on global travel due to the Covid 19 pandemic. This has resulted in an increase in international flights operated to the country. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s aviation sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210422/Z_1 |