Govt targets US$ 1 b tourism revenue

Aggressive promotional campaign to be launched :

Rohan Mathes and Irangika Range

COLOMBO: The Government is to embark on an aggressive tourism promotional drive aimed at achieving a US$ 1 billion earnings target within the next two to three years while opening employment avenues in the leisure sector.

This proposal has been submitted by Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda.

Speaking to journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the Cabinet has given approval to defer the implementation of the proposed US$ 10 Visa fee from foreign passport holders till August 31 this year while bringing the electricity rate for hotels on par with other industries for the same period.

"Having consulted the industry, the Government has taken a decision to provide a package of incentives in the immediate term to build confidence and encourage the industry participants to work towards attracting a large number of tourists and new markets for the season commencing from September this year.

We are postponing the promulgation of the new Tourism Act No.38 of 2005 for a future date following the Government's decision to have extensive consultations with the stakeholders and introduce necessary amendments."

He said in the meantime transitional arrangements could be introduced to facilitate the participation of all stakeholders in the public and private sectors to work together in designing and implementing an effective marketing and investment programme to revive the tourism industry.

A separate Tourism Trust to administer the tourism Development Fund will be set up.

This will have representatives from the Treasury, Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Board and three representatives from the private sector including one member to represent small and medium business entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.

The Minister said approval has been granted to provide import duty concessions for selected items which are not available locally to promote alternative tourism activities which exceed a Rs.100 million investment.

A committee will be appointed representing the Central Bank, The Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Board and representatives from the tourism cluster of the National Council for Economic Development for formulating a scheme to provide debt relief on a case by case basis for the hotels worst affected by the tsunami.

The progress of the aggressive tourist promotion campaign will be reviewed after three months and a report submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for considering further expansion.

A committee will be appointed representing the Central Bank, The Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Board and representatives from the tourism cluster of the National Council for Economic Development for formulation of a scheme to provide debt relief on a case by case basis for the hotels worst affected by the tsunami.

The progress of the aggressive tourist promotion campaign will be reviewed after three months and a report submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for considering further expansion.