Investors ready for Star Class hotels:
Tourism picks up in Jaffna
Charumini de Silva in Jaffna
There is immense potential for tourism and hotel industry in the
Northern province. Over 500 people visit Jaffna daily from various parts
of the country with the dawn of peace.
With the opening of the A-9 road for the public, the number of
tourists visiting Jaffna has increased rapidly. In years to come
tourists will not only arrive by road and air, but the ferries will also
increase.
Jaffna tourism
* Over 500 people visit Jaffna daily
*There are 17 guest houses and 11
restaurants in Jaffna
* Timely for sustained tourism in the
country. |
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The Nallur
Kovil - a major tourist attraction in Jaffna |
Daily News Business interviewed several investors who are keen to
invest in the hotel and tourism industry for their views. Most said
there are no Star Class hotels in Jaffna and considering the opportunity
the investors are ready to set up Star Class hotels.
It is a niche market for and since it is in the pre-mature stage, it
is the ideal time to enter into the market, they said.
One investor said people in Jaffna are not yet ready for large-scale
investment.
“But as investors we cannot waste time and let go the opportunities
in this area.
At present the investors are conducting market surveys in the tourism
and hotel industry for a lucrative tourism industry in Sri Lanka.
Jaffna is a resource land, which was untouched for the past three
decades and it is vital to adopt the concept of being green since it is
timely to have a sustained tourism in the country,” he said. Another
investor said Asian tourists have shown a huge interest in exploring the
country and regional tourism was not much affected even during the
global economic downturn.
“It is essential to highlight novel concepts, activities and
diversifications such as eco-tourism, adventure tourism, beaches,
surfing, snorkelling, wildlife, ancient city exploring, food, shopping,
religious backgrounds, cultural events and ayurvedic medicaments,” he
said.
“Through the increased developments in these medium and long-term
investments of the resorts, inns, restaurants and hotels, it would
expand the Gross Domestic Production (GDP), foreign exchange earnings,
job opportunities within the area and as a result the per capita income
of the people will also increase substantially.
With the rapid development projects that are being carried by the
Government will help the investors to launch their business in the
Northern province.
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