Rapid growth in tourism industry

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The tourism industry has seen a rapid growth. About 98 per cent of hotel rooms in and around Colombo are full and 60 per cent of rooms in outstation hotels are also fully booked, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

Addressing the weekly press briefing at Seth Sevana, Colombo yesterday, he said, 55,130 tourists have visited Sri Lanka up to this month "There is a gradual increase in tourists visiting Sri Lanka in May during the past few months. Over 26,000 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka and in June the number was over 30,000. Over 44,000 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in July, "Abeywardena said.

The Government took prompt action to promote the tourism industry by setting up the Tourism Cess Fund. It is also planning to amend the Act to set up a Sales Promotion Authority. The tourism industry will see a rapid development with the introduction of these things, the Minister said.