Sri Lanka to host Asian World Tourism Conference next year

The Sri Lankan Government has said the country is set to host the Asian World Tourism Conference in March or April next year.

Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told the media that tourism in the country has seen a 36 percent increase this year when compared to the same period last year.

The Minister said that 55,898 tourists had visited the country in August.

According to Abeywardena, the Government is looking at aggressively developing the tourism industry in the country.

He noted that development projects have commenced in former high security zones such as Pasikudah, Kuchchaweli, and Kalpitiya where 13 hotels with 1,000 rooms would be constructed in the next two years.

The Government has also planned to develop some 500 acres in Kuchchaweli and 14 islands in Kalpitiya as tourist zones.