SLTDA targets US$ 600 m this year:
Tourism nets US$ 450 m
Domestic tourism rebounds with NE opening:
Charumini DE SILVA
The tourism industry recorded a total turnover of US$ 450 million in
2009 an increase of over 20 percent growth compared to the corresponding
year, Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Director General, S.
Kalaiselvam told Daily News Business.
He said this year the SLTDA is targeting around 575,000 tourist
arrivals while targeting an income of US$ 600 million. During January
the number of tourist arrivals recorded 50,757 which is a 31.9 percent
increas compared to 2008 January tourist arrivals. Most of the tourists
were from the countries such as India, UK and Germany.
Kalaiselvam said compared to the number of tourist arrivals during
last month 9,141 tourists were from India, which is a 73.5 percent
increase. Secondly the UK recorded 8,225 tourist arrivals with an
increase of 24.6 percent and German tourist arrivals were 4,470 whilst
recording an increase of a 54.1 percent.
He said with the dawn of peace, the tourism industry has shown a
significant increase and has potential to grow further. The opening of
Northern and the Eastern province has brought positive hopes to Sri
Lanka’s tourism.
The majority of the tourists that are visiting the Northern and the
Eastern province are local tourists and this has shown much confidence
in the domestic tourism as well.
Over 500 people visit Jaffna daily from various parts of the island.
At present, several islands at Kalpitiya in the North Western Province
have been given to two investors and the balance will be given to the
other investors by the end of this month on a 30-year lease, Kalaiselvam
said.
He said the Kalpitiya island tourist resorts will attract tourists to
this area for clean beaches, secluded privacy and the quiet atmosphere
that could be enjoyed by tourists who come from busy industrialized
countries. This project will provide many opportunities to develop
tourism and the hotel industry.
“The reform in the Colombo city hotel room rates has been a very
successful as it has benefited the hotel industry and the entire tourism
industry. This has also created a platform for hoteliers to start their
businesses and to have market stabilization,” he said.
The Director General said through the increased developments in these
medium and long-term investments of the hotels, resorts, inns, islands
and restaurants it would help expand the Gross Domestic Production
(GDP), foreign exchange earnings, job opportunities within the areas and
as a result the per capita income of the people will also increase
substantially. |