Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
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Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando and Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi welcome President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at SLTDA on Thursday
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday expressed confidence in making Sri Lanka Asia’s tourist destination, whilst insisting on overcoming the challenges and expediting plans to lure tourists through global campaigns.
“All sectors of the tourism industry should be prepared to achieve the 1.3 million tourist arrival target by the year-end,” he said during an inspection visit to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) on Thursday.
As per the latest data released by the Tourism Ministry, over 260,000 tourists have arrived in the country so far. It is higher than the overall number that arrived last year, whilst recording the highest numbers received in the post-pandemic as well.
The President also instructed to take steps to further increase the number of international airlines operating into Sri Lanka in consultation with the aviation stakeholders.
Infrastructure development required to maintain top tourist hotspots such as Yala, Kumana, Minneriya and other wildlife parks as well as coastal areas were also discussed.
There is a large number of local as well as foreign employment opportunities associated with the tourism sector. President Rajapaksa stressed that training opportunities in the sector should be expanded further, adding that a large number of job opportunities could be created by planning to provide practical training and theoretical knowledge to the youth with the assistance of the hotel chains spread across the country.
“Despite various forms of planned propaganda being carried out to destroy the tourism industry, even in such a context, tourist arrivals remain high. Strict attention should be paid to the safety of the tourists,” he added.
President Rajapaksa also made inspection visits to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB). He commended the staff for their commitment to the promotion and development of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
He highlighted that it is the responsibility of the SLTDA to provide an attractive service with a high level of hospitality from the time of arrival to the time of return to their respective countries.
The Tourist Board was established in 1966 for rapid economic development through the systematic and streamlined development of the tourism industry and it became the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in 2005.
The SLTDA is empowered to oversee all areas related to the tourism industry, including tourist arrivals, planning resorts and accommodation facilities, registration and classification of tourist services including tourist hotels and travel agencies, and the issuance of licenses.
The Government aims to earn $ 10 billion annually from the tourism industry. The Easter Sunday attack was a major blow to the tourism industry and it was further devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the internal and challenges, the Government has taken all necessary steps for the rapid development of the infrastructure in the tourism sector.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga who also accompanied President Rajapaksa in his inspection visit said that the industry is thriving again due to the successful national vaccination drive against COVID-19.
Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Tourism Secretary S. Hettiarachchi, SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando and several others were also present at the inspection visit.
