Sri Lanka to earn US$ 10 billion in revenue by attracting 7 million tourists by 2030. Steps will be taken to revive the collapsed tourism industry in Sri Lanka in a systematic manner, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism S. Hettiarachchi said. Hettiarachchi expressed these views while speaking at the media briefing ‘Tourism Resumes’ held at the Presidential Media Centre on January 13. President’s Media Spokesman Kingsly Rathnayake moderated the news briefing.
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The global Covid-19 pandemic was a major cause for the collapsing of the tourism industry. It was powerful enough to make more than one million employees lose direct and indirect job opportunities in the industry. Tourism Ministry Secretary Hettiarachchi said a large amount of revenue was lost as a result of these consequences.
The tourism industry was the third largest source of foreign remittances received to the country. Sri Lanka received a net income from tourism in comparison to other revenue generating sectors. The officials pointed out that the need has been identified to overcome the current situation and work towards a common goal with a positive approach, by getting government and non-governmental institutions and foreign missions involved for the development of the tourism sector.
The Secretary said that as per the new plans and strategies, the objective of his ministry is to earn US$ 10 billion in revenue by attracting 7 million tourists by 2030.
Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said that Sri Lanka must also adhere to global standards and criteria to achieve these objectives and that all citizens must also have a positive attitude.
Under the new programme of the government, the Ministry of Tourism has been affiliated to a number of new institutions which contribute directly to the development of the tourism industry.
Compared to other Asian countries, an increase in tourist arrivals can be witnessed in Sri Lanka since the country has been able to manage the Covid-19 pandemic scientifically. The Chairperson said that the Tourism Development Authority is in possession of a comprehensive programme to achieve the desired goals.
