Tourism promotion makes headway in North

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Tourism promotion in the Northern Province has got off the ground. The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Army has set up a tourist information centre at Hospital Street in Jaffna town to offer help and facilitate those visiting the northern peninsula, Minister of Tourism Achala Jagoda told the Sunday Observer.

After the A9 Road was reopened around three lakhs of tourists, local and foreign flocked to the Northern Province during the past two months improving the income of farmers, businessmen and those self-employed. There is a surge in the demand for vegetables, fruits, handicrafts and ornamental goods.

The Minister of Tourism has instructed his Ministry Secretary to formulate a scheme to conserve archaeological and ecclesiastical sites in the North to minimise the damage caused to the environment.

The Environment, Fisheries, Defence, Cultural and Heritage Ministries will formulate a common policy in the near future. According to the Tourist Development Authority , the number of tourist arrivals in February reached 57,300.

The Tourist Development Authority launched a project in 2005, to establish up-market luxury type villas in the township of Kalpitiya and the 14 islands in the area. The extent of land covering the project is around 4,000-5,000 hectares. The Tourist Development Authority along with the Board of Investment (BOI) have invited several investors in this regard.

Another important aspect of the Kalpitiya project is regarding the residents of Baththalangunduwa and the fishermen in the adjacent areas. “These people will not be uprooted but will be the stakeholders of the hotel project,” a Tourist Development Authority official said.

The total investment on the Kalpitiya hotel project is estimated at US dollars 4 billion and funds for the purpose will be provided by investors. Another tourist attraction under the Kalpitiya project is the seas around Kalpitiya have been earmarked as an attraction for sightseeing of Whales and dolphins. The largest mangrove plants in the country are found there.