AsiaNews.it
Colombo launches “strategic” tourism plan
by Melani Manel Perera
The goal is to earn US$ 2.75 billion in foreign exchange and attract 2.5 million tourists by 2016. Improving domestic air travel is one of the key components of the plan.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Sri Lanka’s Economic Development Ministry yesterday unveiled its long overdue five-year strategic plan for tourism. The goal is to earn about US$ 2.75 in foreign exchange. “The government,” Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Nalaka Godahewa said, has “clearly identified several areas which needed development for the country to achieve its ambitious goal of 2.5 million tourists by 2016.”
According to the plan, Sri Lanka would be marketed under eight themes. The country would be presented as a prestige tourist destination, as a wonder of Asia.
Improving domestic air travel is one of the key components of the new strategy to meet the demands of the tourist industry.
The government expects to attract more than US$ 3 billion in foreign investments to buttress the sector.
“According to the strategic plan, we expect investments from the private sector to amount to more than US$ 500 million by 2020 while the public sector would invest close to US$ 20 million," Godahewa said.
The Sri Lanka government expects to attract more than 4 million high-end tourists by 2020.
A committee has also been set up to evaluate the operations of the various stakeholders as well as encourage investments in the tourist sector.