Tourism industry generates US $ 2.48b revenue

By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The country’s tourism industry has generated a revenue of US $ 2.48 billion and surpassed the target of 1.5 million tourist arrivals to the country in 2014.

Sri Lanka earned US $ 1.6 billion from tourism for the first nine months of last year mainly due to the peaceful environment in the country.

"The unprecedented number of tourist arrivals and the continuing interest in Sri Lanka, probably as the most sought after tourist destination, began with the end of terrorism in 2009. For 30 years, the country was considered an unsafe destination which no amount of publicity could revive. All stakeholders suffered immensely, while not seeing light at the end of the tunnel," Senior Vice President, Galle Face Hotel Management Company, Chandra Mohotti said.

A bomb victim himself and the most senior officer in the five star hotel sector at present, Mohotti said that he has seen through the terrorism years and present revival of the economy in particular the tourism industry was remarkable.

The revival and interest began in earnest following President Mahinda Rajapaksa setting a target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016. This spurred everyone into action and the growth appears phenomenal. However, to sustain the new found gains, stakeholders need to infuse high professional standards to be in competition with at least regional tourist destinations, he said.

The opening of a number of world famous hotel chains such as Shangri-La, Movenpick and Hyatt will boost tourist arrivals and the country is set to achieve the 2.5 million target by 2016.

At present, the top four countries of origin, for tourist arrivals are India, Germany, UK and China at present.