Marketing plan for cruise tourism
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SLTPB officials present a copy of the cruise tourism
marketing plan to Minister John Amaratunga. |
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) in partnership with
SLITO and THASL has drawn up a marketing plan for cruise tourism
The plan was presented to Minister for Tourism Development and
Christian Affairs, John Amaratunga at the International Maritime
Conference at the Galadari Hotel. Global cruise experts such as Vice
President, Royal Caribbean, John Tercek were also present.
"Cruise Tourism running into 21.7 million worldwide guests with Sri
Lanka registering over 50,000 visitors for 2015 targets 100,000 visitors
by the end 2016, given the infrastructure development which will be
implemented at a cost of US $50-75 million," said Minister Amaratunga.
"We must develop the supply chain concurrent to the demand chain as
per the marketing plan if we are to make Sri Lanka a turnaround port,"
he said. He congratulated the private sector and the Sri Lanka Tourism
Promotions Bureau for working together in a spirit of a private-public
partnership.
The cruise travel business, better known as the 'floating marine
resorts of the world' which attracts the most wealthy globally, has
doubled in business for Sri Lanka with 14 cruise liners calling in
2012/13 registering 19,615 cruise travellers while in 2013/2014 Sri
Lanka attracted 22 cruise liners to Sri Lanka with the number of visitor
going up to 27,317 while this year the numbers have spiked to 52 cruise
liners and the overall number of visitors expected to be over 50,000.
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