Sri Lanka Tourism is looking at attracting 1.5 million tourist arrivals for 2023 said Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando at an event in the Ministry of Tourism.
The Minister was also optimistic of achieving revenue of USD 2.8 billion revenue from Tourism for this year. He said smilingly that he took over the tourism ministry at a time when the last tourist left the country but was able to achieve the revised target of 700,000 million arrivals set for last year (2022) with a foreign revenue of Rs.1.2 million.
Fernando emphasized that a new tourism strategy will be adopted where the guiding philosophy, visitor demand and supply-side experiences are aligned. The new strategy will aim to address gaps in planning, regulation, value addition, market research, stakeholder coordination, skills development, investment attraction and sustainable natural resource management. The Minister said that this would help to successfully achieve the tourism goals set for 2023.
“In 2023, we will project Sri Lanka into a higher value tourism destination by capturing its full growth potential, whilst safeguarding and prioritizing the sustainability of its natural and cultural assets.”
The Tourism Minister said “ we have to make a genuine effort to convert the tourism industry to become the leading sector of economic growth with which all stakeholders can rally together to transform the tourism sector as well as the platform to communicate Sri Lanka’s tourism values to the rest of the world”.
Fernando said that new players both locally and globally are investing in the Sri Lankan hospitality sector and several upcoming hotel projects will complete their work during the year.
Introducing an iconic global brand name to the Colombo hospitality sector the Courtyard by Marriott opened in Colombo last month and offers 164-keys which includes four suites and is classified as a four star business hotel.
“This will help in increasing the room capacity and creating a considerable increase in tourism related direct & indirect job opportunities. It is time for the people of Sri Lanka to stand strong, to recognize the roots that shaped the island and it is with the conviction, commitment and collaboration of every one of us that Sri Lanka can remain the enchanting emerald isle.”
All citizens must unite together to share the country’s extraordinarily diverse and authentic story with the rest of the world.” said Fernando. (CG)
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