EARNINGS FROM TOURISM TO REACH ONE BILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR

The Government is optimistic of earning one billion US Dollars from the tourism industry.

Sri Lanka is ranked one of the most suitable countries in the world to tour. Daily earnings from the tourism industry are on the rise as Sri Lanka has already become a paradise for the tourists. The industry has generated many direct as well as indirect jobs. According to the Economic Development Ministry it has been of much relief for a larger section of the country. According to Sri Lanka Tourism a programme has also been unveiled to enhance facilities in tourist hotels. The Government is intent on increasing the number of hotels from 28,000 to 45,000 by 2016. In order to achieve this goal, construction work on 14 hotels in the Pasikudah area has been launched and these will comprise 1000 rooms. The land set aside for these hotels is 150 acres.
The Economic Development Ministry said the total investment is in the region of 6533 million rupees. The allocation made for the development of infrastructure in Pasikudah is 650 million rupees. During a recent visit to the location to inspect the progress of the construction of hotels, Deputy Minister Lalshman Yapa Abeywardena opined that its intention was to transform Pasikudah into a tourist resort.
Tourist hotel owners in the area acclaimed the programmes mooted by the Government to grant facilities needed by tourists visiting the Pasikudah Coastal belt.