Tourism industry diversified for rural uplift
Ariya Rubasinghe
Sri Lanka is popular for attracting foreigners since ancient times.
Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as “the finest island for its size in all
the world”. Tourism has become the most vibrant sector of Sri Lanka
following the end of war. Tourist arrivals have increased immensely
providing a huge boost to the country’s economic growth. Following the
end of the war upto January end, nearly 400,000 tourists have visited
Sri Lanka. It is targeted to attract 1.5 million tourists by the end of
this year and the year 2011 has been declared “Visit Sri Lanka Year”.
The Government’s vision is to make Sri Lanka the foremost leisure
destination in the South Asian region. Sri Lanka is planning to promote
its attractions during the 2011 World Cup scheduled to be held in
February and March 2011.
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Coastal
tourism, a main attraction among overseas tourists |
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has launched several
programs to promote the industry, thereby divert tourism which was
confined to the urban areas for the benefit of villagers and make
village folk a valuable partner in the tourist industry.
The Authority will establish several tourist rest projects similar to
the one in Bentota throughout the island on private public partnership
basis. They will be set up in Mannar, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kalpitiya,
Pasikudah and Kuchchaveli. In addition the Authority will also establish
Comfort Villages especially on roads leading to Northern and Eastern
provinces, in places such as Mihintale, Medawachchiya Junction, Vavuniya,
Mullaitivu, Vellankerni, Mankulam, Habarana, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa.
Comfort Villages is a new concept by which the Tourism Development
Authority envisages to provide all amenities, such as wash rooms, car
parks, meal areas, sales outlets for foreign and local tourists visiting
the newly opened areas in the North and the East. It seeks to strengthen
the economy of the people of the area by making them to participate in
the operation of these facilities such as restaurants and sale outlets.
Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Project
The Kalpitiya Integrated Resort Development Project (KITRP) is Sri
Lanka’s biggest tourism development project that offers investors an
ideal opportunity to invest in a high yield tourist attraction
activities. The area covered by the resort project amounts to four to
5000 acreas and stretches to about 18 km.
The Tourist Development Authority has acquired 14 islands in the
Puttalam district comprising Kalpitiya, the three Vellai islands,
Ippantivu, Eramativu, Kakativu, Periya Arachchial, Sinna Arachchial,
Sinna Eramativu and Eramativu West, Battalangunduwa and Uchchimunai.
The proposed hotel at Vellai will provide golf, water sports, dolphin
watching and other facilities.
Also the tourists coming to this resort will be able to visit the
Wilpattu National Park which was reopened recently after being kept
closed for several years because of the terrorist problem.
Passikudah Resort
The Passikudah Resort was a popular tourist destination amongst both
foreign and local tourists prior to 1983. Bordered by the Passikudah Bay
and spanning to 150 acres, the resort was planned to accommodate 500
rooms.
The Authority will revive this resort and a 100 acre resort area has
been reserved for construction of several hotels.
Investors have been selected and their proposals to construct around
500-700 rooms are currently being evaluated. The exact number of rooms
is likely to depend on the capacity of the beach area. 50 acres has been
reserved for recreational facilities and common amenities.
The resort will offer many other things Canoeing, pleasure boating,
wind surfing, sport fishing, banana boat riding, horse riding, squash,
lawn tennis, scuba diving and whale watching to the tourists.
Kuchchavelli
In the Trincomalee district, nearly 600 acres in stretch of eight km
has been identified for tourism development purposes. The land borders
the beach and is situated in the village of Kuchchaveli, north of the
Nilaveli beach.
The Kuchchaveli resort will provide a wide range of land and water
based activities. The private sector has expressed keen interest and
enthusiasm in developing Kuchchaveli and 3,000 to 5,000 rooms would be
in operation by 2016. The Kuchchaveli resort planned as a ‘Green
Integrated Resort’ is focusing on sustainable development.
The Urban Development Authority has prepared a zoning plan to
identify suitable locations for different categories of tourism
facilities, such as hotels, guesthouses, conference facilities and
locations for recreational activities. Undeveloped areas will be
landscaped with endemic plants, creepers and trees.
Hingurakgoda Water Bubble
Sri Lanka is blessed with several underground rivers and the Water
Bubble sprouting at Hingurakgoda is emerging from one such river. It has
been splashing water throughout the year even during extreme droughts
despite water being used from this spring for irrigation purposes. The
Tourist Development Authority plans to develop this spring as a bathing
spot for tourists and get the people in the area to operate auxiliary
services and strengthen their economic conditions.
Lipton’s Seat - Haputale
This is one of the most attractive scenic spots in Sri Lanka located
in Haputale off Dambetenne Road. Anyone visiting this place will enjoy
the scenic beauties of five provinces of Sri Lanka, Uva, Southern,
Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provinces from this location.
The Authority is constructing a rotating pavilion in this location
enabling tourists to view the surrounding areas.
Mulkirigala Temple Site
This ancient temple is situated on a rock area similar to Sigiriya
and the Tourist Development Authority is renovating this site as an
alternative site to Sigiriya as Sigiriya has become non-accessible on
certain periods due to waspas attacks.
With the development projects in the Hambantota district and is being
Kataragama and the Yala National Park in the proximity this location
will become attractive to tourists.
Panadura Beach Project
The Panadura Beach has become a beach area fascinating tourists and
locals who look for rest and recreation similar to Galle Face Green,
Colombo. The Authority jointly with the Coast Conservation Authority is
developing the area, to provide tourists facilities and security and
protection needed. The development work will include access roads,
providing bathing facilities, construction of a police post, and a
watchtower with life saving facilities.
Community Tourism Villages
The project aims to focus tourism to traditional cottage level
industries in various parts such as lace and beeralu weaving, wooden
artifacts and pottery industry in Kapparatota, Weligama, brass, silver
and jewelry products in Utuwana, Mawanella, Batik, brass, metal and
wooden artifacts in Nattarampota, Kundasale, paper based products at
Puwakpitiya and Laggala. Facilities for tourists in these villages will
be constructed and arrangements are being made to market their products
to tourists.
Bio diversity projects
Around 13 percent of the Sri Lanka’s land area is conserved as
national parks, reserves, sanctuaries and jungle corridors. There are 14
national parks in Sri Lanka. All the parks are now open to public and
many parks offer safari tours.
Water sports
Sri Lanka is opulent with many places in the blue water sea that
surrounds the island with over 1,330 km of coast and in major rivers for
water sports. These include rafting in many rivers, whale and dolphin
watching in Mirissa, Trincomalee and Kalpitiya, surfing at Hikkaduwa,
Mirissa and Arugam Bay. Prime sites for wind surfing, water skiing,
speed boating and banana-boating are located in the Negombo region of
the West Coast and numerous places in the Southern coast. The ship
“Jetliner” formerly used for humanitarian efforts can accommodate 600
passengers and 150 cars, can be hired for tourism related activities and
for weekend cruises.
Amenities available onboard include a banquet area for 250 guests,
mini conference facilities for 50 participants, and ballroom facilities
for 100 guests with exclusive bar facilities. It has an observational
salon, which accommodates 50 guests and a deck area with a holding
capacity of 250.
(The writer is Director General Media Centre for National
Development)
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