Kalpitiya Lagoon newest tourism product for Lanka

PROJECT: Sri Lanka is to start work on its newest tourism product-the Kalpitiya Lagoon, which is located on the northwest coast.

Minister of Tourism Anura Bandaranaike said that the government is going ahead with project.

Announcing the government's decision, Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) chairman Udaya Nanayakkara said, "We have received the green light from the government to embark on the project."

The government said the project will consist of an 18-hole golf course, yacht marina, helipad, cable cars and up market accommodation with up to 3,000 rooms and is being seen as drive economic growth towards the country's tsunami recovery plans.

To be developed over 5,000 acres within a new tourist zone, the Kalpitiya Dutch Bay Island Project will be funded through the Embarkation Levy, imposed on travelers to fund development costs in the industry. The project is expected to be completed in the next three years.

Nanayakkara also announced that the country's national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, will invest in an infrastructure development project, to be financed by Japan's JBIC, to further develop Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Negombo Nuwara Eliya and other areas into tourism zones.

The Japanese government is also constructing a hotel training school in Pallekelle, while the SLTB is setting up hotel training schools in Bandarawela and Anuradhapura. Furher, the Sri Lankan government said it has allocated 850 acres in Arugam Bay, 80 acres in Nuwara Ellaya and an additional 1200 acres in Bentota to develop niche tourism projects.

"Our aim is to offer 25,000 rooms in Sri Lanka to meet projected arrivals of one million tourists by 2010," added Nanayakkara.

Official figures show an increase of 13 percent tourist arrivals this year, compared to last year.

Meanwhile, city hotels have reported an increase of up to 70 percent occupancy rate. Seventy-five percent of the arrivals comprise of individuals, while package tourists account for the remaining 25 percent.

(Courtesy. eTurboNews)