SL to woo 2.2m tourists this year

Sri Lanka Tourism will attract around 2.2 million visitors this year with improved room and staff facilities said Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Malraj Kiriella at the launch of Sancharaka Udawa 2016 last week

He said a program has been launched with the private sector to improve the skills of leisure sector employees. We are confident of reaching our goals this year and in the coming years with improved infrastructure facilities.

When asked whether the SLTD sticks to the original target of attracting 2.5 million visitors by this year, he said the target was revised taking into account the global scenario.

However, industry experts are sceptical about achieving the new target due to the lack of competent staff and a shortfall in the number of hotel rooms. Chairman, Sanchara Udawa, Dirk Grigson said Sri Lanka has sufficient hotel rooms and added that it could attract more visitors to the country given its diverse attractions.

Currently, the country has around 38,000 hotel rooms. Industry experts said the industry needs around 45,000 rooms to develop the industry.

Around 1.8 million tourists arrived last year contributing US$ 2.86 billion in earnings to the country compared to US$ 2.43 billion in 2014.

The number of tourist arrivals rose 24.3 percent in January this year compared to the corresponding period last year, data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said. The month recorded 194,280 tourists arrivals in the country compared to 156,246 in January last year.

The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) will organise the ‘Sancharaka Udawa 2016’, largest gathering of the local tourism industry in May. The exhibition will showcase small, medium and large enterprises and entrepreneurs of the tourism industry on a single platform, creating an opportunity to come together and make it known to those in the tourism sector.

The popularity of the event bears ample testimony to its success. This will be an ideal opportunity for those interested in the tourism industry, even students to get a first-hand understanding of what is available in the tourism industry.

The exhibition will be held from May 27-29 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre (BMICH) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. There will be many stalls, seminars and meetings to facilitate tourism opportunities for the future. Moreover, the highlight of this year is the celebration of ‘50 Years’ for Sri Lanka Tourism.

Tourism is a highly focused industry for economic growth in Sri Lanka. SALITO together with Sri Lanka Tourism will play a major role in this event which is an important feature in the local tourism calendar. SLAITO has appointed CDC Events and Travels as the Professional Exhibition Organiser for Sancharaka Udawa 2016.It is expected to be the biggest and best exposure to date, and a large number of local and expat visitors are expected at the event.

Due to the high demand of this event, this year we have made Sancharaka Udawa a three-day event that will place over 200 stalls and it will be held in collaboration with the 50 years celebration of Sri Lanka Tourism,” said Grigson.