Tourism industry growth to accelerate this year
The tourism industry which recorded an impressive growth last year is
poised for further expansion this year with foreign direct investments
amounting to around US$ 3,000 million, according to the Ministry of
Finance and Planning Annual Report 2013.
It said that large-scale domestic entrepreneurs providing high-end
boutique hotels capitalising on the bio-diversity of the country will
spur growth in the tourism industry. Provision of home-stay facilities
in popular tourist locations across the country to raise room capacity
to around 40,000 by 2016 will boost tourism industry growth enabling to
woo 1.2 million visitors.
“Tourism has grown steadily in the number of arrivals, diversity in
product demand and quality raising its income to around US$ 1.7 billion
in 2013. Allied industries and services have become lucrative sources of
employment providing high income to youth following the expansion of the
industry,” the report said.
The number of direct and indirect employment opportunities in the
tourism industry increased from 132,055 in 2010 to 270,150 last year.
Tourism industry experts are optimistic that the industry will be the
leading foreign exchange earner overtaking foreign remittances which is
around US$ 8 billion. The number of arrivals surpassed one million last
year and the industry envisages around 1.1 million visitors this year.
Lack of skilled hotel personnel and high room charges have slowed the
pace of growth in the tourism industry, experts said.
- LF |
