Eastern province hotels to be upgraded

Harshini PERERA

With the dawn of peace the Eastern province is to have more hotels to develop the tourism industry in the country.

Coordinator for Tourism Development in the Eastern Region, A.M.Jaufer said there are nearly 1000 hotel rooms existing in the Eastern province. These hotels are located in Nilaveli, Batticaloa, Arugam Bay, Passikudah and Ampara.

“These hotels need to be upgraded to required standards to cater the demand that will increase in near future. With the new investments in these areas there will be more hotels, which will increase the hotel room capacity in the Eastern province,” he said.

“Most hoteliers in the Eastern province are not aware of the standards that need be adopted in the hotel sector. We are in the process of educating these hoteliers and providing required assistance to restart their operations,” he said.

“Most of the lending institutes have come forward to provide financial assistance for these hoteliers. Not only hoteliers, we will be facilitating other entrepreneurs in the industry to revive tourism in the Eastern province,” he said.

“In addition, the infrastructure facilities of these areas will soon be developed. The road system will be completed in 2010 while the area is supplied with water.

Hoteliers in these areas face power breakdowns regularly. Electricity to hotels has to be provided with low rates and continuously. The hotels will be equipped with features such as Spas and Ayurvedic treatment for visitors”, said Jaufer.

The Tourism Development in the Eastern Region will implement many projects in tourism and leisure industry.

These projects will enhance the cultural impact on tourism and broaden the concept of eco-tourism in the Eastern province. Kudumbigala and Magulmaha Viharaya will be developed as new attractions in future. Galoya National Park will be developed as a tourist attraction and there is need for a domestic airport he said.

An International Surfing Competition and Beach Run is organized as promotional activities.

Meanwhile Arugam Bay Tours (Pvt) Ltd will invest Rs.123 million on a three- star hotel project in Arugam Bay. This is a BOI project and construction will commence in September.

This project will create two hundred indirect and fifty direct job opportunities.