Economic Development Ministry takes several steps:

Country’s targeted tourist boom: 2.5 m

Nethali Struys

The Economic Development Ministry had taken numerous steps to aid the targeted tourist boom in the country by 2016, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

He said that country is targeting over 2.5 million tourists by 2016 and accommodation facilities, which will be a major need to face an influx, are now being fulfilled by constructing 40,000 hotel rooms throughout the country.

“It is the government’s intention to develop the tourism industry so that one in four Sri Lankans will be engaged in tourism related income generating avenues, the minister stated.

Accordingly, 10 hotels are to be built in Pasikuda. Out of this five hotels are to be completed by end of this year and the other five by the end of July next year. This will bring the total number of rooms in Pasikuda alone to 1,000.

“The end of war has given a new lease of life to the Pasikuda area. Infrastructure facilities are being developed accordingly. Specially, need for electricity will be considered within the next six months. A fully equipped helipad will also be built,” the minister said.

Around 5,000 local tourists visit Pasikuda every weekend and that had helped the economic development of the areas observed the minister. The government sees the opportunity to facilitate the public of the area with a special zone for economic activities.

The Malu Malu Hotel has provided many job opportunities. Approximately four persons have been employed per room by now. This tallies to between 4,000 to 5,000 jobs when the 1,000 rooms are completed. Further the Central Cultural Fund and National Archives Department has launched several projects on developing facilities in Sigiriya to boost tourism.

Plans are afoot to build a tourist village which would showcase Sri Lanka’s heritage and culture, said the Minister.

Changes are being made in the agricultural, educational and ayurvedic sectors to suit the needs of the tourism industry. This will be a major attraction to tourists. Steps have also been taken to regulate the informal tourism sector, he further said.