Fresh inputs sought from Provincial Councils to boost regional tourism

• Effort to develop new sites and spread tourism across 25 districts to reduce COVID-19 impact

By Charumini de Silva

Sri Lanka Tourism has sought inputs from Provincial Councils to bolster domestic tourism in a bid to cushion COVID-19 impacts on the industry.

The Provincial Councils have been asked to share their plans to develop existing tourist hotspots, while identifying new attractions. The aim is to promote regional tourism and to lure domestic and international travellers to all 25 districts equally.

“We have recognised that in the past, Sri Lanka Tourism has not adequately promoted regional tourism. The itineraries are typically made focusing only on a few sites, thereby ignoring several rich heritage sites and a great deal of what Sri Lanka really has to offer. We are keen to rectify past errors and are now calling for all provinces to support us in this regard,” Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando told the Daily FT.

She said that letters have been sent to all Provincial Councils to provide the team at Sri Lanka Tourism with high quality video clips, photos of key sites and relevant write-ups that could be used to promote their province to both domestic and international tourists.

In addition, Sri Lanka Tourism also welcomes any unique concepts or ideas to promote regional tourism in the country.

The Chairperson also said that they are looking to have more provincial presence going forward, adding that this critical area has been handled in a piecemeal and in an ad-hoc manner in the past.

“We have compiled a database of Tourist Information Centres (TICs), Provincial Tourist Offices and Outlets opened by the Tourism Ministry. At present there are a total of 36 such outlets. Going forward, we intend to work closely with all Provincial Councils and to maintain standard branding and look and feel, as well as the same facilities in all TICs,” Fernando stressed.

As the Government has set ambitious plans to help tourism become a $10 billion industry by 2025, she said that it was important to have proper coordination between all Provincial Councils and work towards a target-oriented program.