Sri Lanka’s tourism pilot project to generate US$ 4 million revenue for country
Members of Sri Lanka’s travel industry have reportedly said that the pilot project initiated by the government of Sri Lanka on reviving the tourism industry by bringing down Ukrainian tourists to the country is expected to generate over Rs. 800 million (US$ 4 million).
The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Thilak Weerasinghe has told the Daily FT that on average a Ukrainian tourist will spend about US$ 150 per day excluding their other expenses, whilst the average stay is 14-days.
“On average a Ukrainian tourist spends $ 150 per day for accommodation on a full-board basis,” he has said, adding that the pilot project has immensely helped the stakeholders to get back to business in some form, whilst embracing the changes in the tourism industry.
So far, 653 Ukrainian tourists have arrived since 28 December 2020 and eight more flights are scheduled with an average of 100 to 200 passengers until 24 January.
The pilot project has reportedly been a breakthrough in the travel and tourism industry, which had been crippled due to the spread of COVID-19 since mid-March 2020. In 2019, there had been 35,000 tourists from Ukraine, marginally down from 36,500 in 2018, but higher in comparison to 23,853 in 2015.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s pilot project launched last month with the aim of reviving the country’s tourism industry has yielded positive results. The island’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country until the Covid 19 pandemic affected global travel. However, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is showing signs of a quick rebound with tourists already expressing interest to travel to the island when the airports are reopened on in the 21st of this month. The safety and hygienic certification received by Sri Lanka as well as the listing of the country as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications have increase the island’s attraction as a travel destination post Covid. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry therefore poses a lucrative business/investment opportunity.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210108/Z_3 |