Bomb explosions not a threat to tourism - Faizer Musthapha

by Anushka Nanayakkara

The Sri Lankan tourism industry has not been affected due to the recent bomb explosions, said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Faizer Musthapha.

He told the Sunday Observer that according to current statistics, one cannot say that the attacks in Colombo had a major impact on Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. "Around 30,000 'Borah' community members are expected, this month and compared to last year's arrivals, to observe religious activities here", he said.

The Minister said during the past 20 years similar bomb attacks have taken place. In 2001 after the attack on the Bandaranaiake International Airport, people thought the tourism sector in Sri Lanka would collapse, but we are still surviving with a sky rocketed growth for the past two months at the rate of 56%. The anticipated arrivals for January is 50% to 55%, he said.

This year, the tourism industry will focus more on countries such as India, UK, Russia and the Middle East, in addition to China and Germany with their emerging markets which has a huge potential.

These tourists to Sri Lanka are more holiday-oriented and it is about 80% of the total arrivals according to statistics, the Minister said.

Tourism promotion and infrastructure development in Kalpitiya and Dedduwa will be the focus during this year," Musthapha said.