Sri Lanka to be Promoted in European Countries as a Tourist Destination. 12 Themes for Next 12 Months Planned

10th December 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Harshini Perera

The tourism industry in Sri Lanka will concentrate in promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination mainly in European countries. Tourists from European countries are heavy spenders and long stayers and it will be advantageous for Sri Lanka to tap those markets, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said.

He said Sri Lanka Tourism is encouraging visits of journalists from foreign countries as a form of introducing the country’s tourism industry to the world.

Within the next five years, one out of seven citizens in Sri Lanka should be involved in the tourism industry and the Government has planned to declare 12 themes for the twelve months next year, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said announcing Sancharaka Udawa, Tourism Products Meet Mart that will be held on January 27.

He said the Government will reduce bank interest rates to one digit to boost industries including tourism.

Sancharaka Udawa will network a group of tourism related personnel under one roof which will in the long run sustain the tourism industry, Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Nilmin Nanayakkara said.

He said that industry lacks foreign language speaking personnel which will be one of the reasons to organize the Sancharaka Udawa, Tourism Products Meet Mart.

There is inadequacy of foreign language speakers especially in Chinese, Spanish, Dutch, French and even English. Sancharaka Udawa will also invite an insurance company to be present on the occasion.

Health and safety measures taken by any tourist destination is the primary consideration of tourists when relating to a country and Sri Lanka should adopt such a system with an insurance company to ensure the health and safety of tourists,” Nanayakkara said.