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| Friday, 4 June 2004 |
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Dorset chamber mulls investments in tourism sector by Sudarshana Perera Entrepreneurs of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry in UK are exploring the possibility of investing in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka while focusing to find local partners for joint ventures in ICT, textiles and transport and agricultural (Food Processing) businesses. Dorset Chamber of Commerce officials who visited Sri Lanka on a trade and fact finding mission said that their visit here was extremely successful and would work in collaboration with all BOI and other government officials to commence potential investments in the country. This was made known when the officials of Dorset Chamber of Commerce met Minister of Industries and Tourism and Investment Promotion, Anura Bandaranaike at his ministry on Tuesday . Minister Bandaranaike said that tourism being the third foreign exchange earner to the country, the government is fully committed to improve the infrastructure and other requirements to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka. With the record booming in the number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka last year, the government is optimistic that the number of arrivals would double this year. He said in order to overcome the lack of rooms, the government is intending to attract some investments on setting up boutique type hotels in the country. "We would also introduce a package of incentives to attract more investments on tourism and encourage local stakeholders to further improve their involvement in the sector. We are targeting to attract more tourists from India and China and steps are under way to promote Sri Lanka in those countries" he said. Ms Diane Edgar of Insight Marketing Services in UK said that during her stay in Sri Lanka, she was able to meet five prospective trade partners. Discussions were also focused on improving human resources training in tourism, reviving the railway sector, North East reconstruction and promotion of Sri Lanka' s tourism in other countries. British High Commissioner Stephen Evans, First Secretary Commercial Dave Waring, Mission Manager and International Trade Officer of Dorest Chamber, Ms Elaine Walker, Marketing and Public Relations, KVH Books Kelvin Van Hasselt, International Trade Manager, Business Link Wessex, Ms Maggie Wareham and Commercial Officer, Ms Amala Heengama also spoke. |
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