JBIC grants US$ 70 m for tourism

by A. G. Piyadasa

The Japanese Bank (JBIC) has granted US. $ 70 million for a south west coast tourism infrastructure development project. The Ministry of Tourism will coordinate the projects.

The project undertaken by the UNDP technical team is aimed at developing, infrastructure facilities. In addition beach park development, fisheries museum development, heritage site improvement, handicraft and ancient village development, Lake Gregory and Victoria Park development too are under the program.

According to Additional Secretary, (Tourism) Ministry of Tourism George Michael under the marketing and promotion programmes they have identified three key international markets. "We would be launching aggressive marketing campaigns in Japan, China and South Korea," he said.

JICA has already sent a study team to Sri Lanka to develop a number of eco tourism projects in the country. The selected areas for the project will be basically in the Cultural Triangle and other natural forest areas.

JICA expects to merge this project with the proposed JBIC project since both are targeting specially the Japanese market.