Sri Lanka Warms up to More Visitors

(Source: Travel Weekly China)

Sri Lanka's tourism related sectors of the economy look to receive an added boost with the introduction of a new Tourism Promotion Law.

Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that a restructuring plan will be drawn up by the Tourism Authority chairman during his speech at the AGM of Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association in Tangalle.

With the island country to host The World Choir Games, an international choir competition next month, PM Wickremesinghe said that attracting global events and investments would help bring in foreign exchange to "manage the country's debt situation", with the "highest debt payment [to come] in 2018 and 2019".

He also stressed that amid the changing world tourism market, Sri Lanka plans to hit a target of five million tourists with a host of new developments in the pipeline.

"What are we going to do to market the country? We can think of nature but should think of theme parks? There are 500 to 800 acres in Galle to become resorts. There will be golf courses in Galle, Kandy, Iranawilla. We've got to think of activities for the tourists. We can think of cruise lines, luxury trains etc. There will be two new museums," he added.