Sri Lanka will have the best year recorded for tourism next year (2024) Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando told the opening ceremony of the WTM in London yesterday.
The arrival and revenue targets have exceeded the anticipated numbers and they hope to end the year with 1.6 million arrivals and over USD 2.6 billion revenue.
“We anticipate the arrival figures to go up to 2.5 million next year and the revenue target to touch close to USD 4 billion.”
That investors too are very upbeat on Sri Lanka and they have been making many inquiries to acquire land and build new hotels especially in rural areas by chain hotels in the world. He said that two international skydiving operators will be opening in Sri Lanka and many entertainment activities like the arrival of ‘Backstreet Boys’ to perform in Sri Lanka next year. These all will contribute towards bringing high end tourists.
“To accommodate a higher number of arrivals over the upcoming years we need to have more accommodation not only in Colombo but in the outstations as well. High quality rooms will attract higher spenders.” he said.
In addition many new airlines too will be flying to Sri Lanka from next year.
SLAITO to take legal action against Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority
EXCEL: Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) has filed legal action against Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
This is against the implementation of the minimum room rate for Colombo hotels. Two other hotels based in Colombo too have resorted to legal action in this regard.
The case was filed by attorney Faiza Mustapha, PC who coincidentally was the then state minister of tourism who initially implemented the minimum room rate over a decade ago. But he soon folded it up as it was a failure.
An official of SLAITO at the WTM said they had made several representations to higher authorities and even updated the media on two occasions not to implement this as it would have a very bad impact on the tourism sector.
“As no action was taken we are now filing legal action. There is no country in the world that has a minimum room rate implemented and rates are decided on demand and supply situations,” he said. (SS)