Tourism industry poised for higher growth

The tourism industry is poised to achieve the 2.5 million arrival target by 2016 having recorded a remarkable growth in 2014, according to a Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority official.

He said that with the increase in the number of hotel rooms, trained staff and competitive room rates, the number of visitors to the country will increase this year to around two million. The industry recorded a growth last year despite many global challenges.

The tourism industry recorded a milestone last year with the arrival of 1.5 million tourists by the end of the year. The industry welcomed the German couple Torrens Jaime and Ciupika Hedwig who arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport via UL558 as the 1.5 millionth tourists to Sri Lanka in 2014.

The couple was given a warm welcome by the Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Rumy Jauffer, Board of Directors of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, industry leaders and senior staff of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

A traditional dance performance was held at the Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome the couple and Sri Lanka Tourism offered a special gift and a complimentary package to visit country’s tourist attractions.

Torrens Jaime, an architect by profession, is a great admirer of late legendary Architect Geoffrey Bawa. The gentleman had much to speak about this legendary man and has been become an admirer of Sri Lanka due to the influence of Bawa’s architecture.

By achieving the 2014 arrival target of 1.5 million tourists, the tourism industry has shown steady growth and hopes to attract 2.5 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2016.

The strategic development plan of Sri Lanka Tourism will achieve its core objectives serving the needs of all stakeholders and ensuring the economic benefits of the industry are distributed to a larger cross-section of society in line with making Sri Lanka, the Wonder of Asia.

This record breaking number of tourist arrivals was made possible by the leadership given by the President and guidance given by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and efforts made by Sri Lanka Tourism.