Sri Lanka Tourism Focuses on Asia & Middle East over Europe. China to be Targeted in the Next 5 Years

04th March 2012, www.island.lk

A top official in the tourism industry says that tourism growth potential lies in Asia and Middle East compared to Europe, therefore Sri Lanka Tourism will focus more on these regions, especially China in the next 5 years.

Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism, addressed the members of The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently. He highlighted the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the tourism industry, the worldlargest service industry. The presentation was titled "Towards 2.5 million Visitors by 2016 - Where are we now and a Policy Framework to get there".

Dr. Godahewa pointed out that according to UNWTO, tourism in Asia Pacific region is expected to grow by 4%-6% p.a. He also highlighted some key tourism objectives of Sri Lanka. They are positioning Sri Lanka as one of the most sought after tourist destinations, promoting tourism to reach annual tourist arrivals target of 2.5 Mn by 2016, increasing the annual foreign exchange earnings to USD 2.75 Bn by 2016, attracting USD 3 Bn or more foreign direct investments (FDI) to the country within the next 5 years. Increasing the room capacity to 45,000 by 2016 and also achieve 500,000 direct and indirect employment within the next 5 years.

He stated that Sri Lanka Tourism’s focus is on creating an environment conducive for tourism to attract new tourists, to improve the global perspective about Sri Lanka and most importantly to make the tourists who come here leave the country with a good impression. He also shared the policy framework designed towards these objectives. They included infrastructure developments, projects on offer, a one stop unit (OSU) established in September 2010 at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority to support Tourism Related investments.

Speaking about marketing Sri Lanka as a tourist destination Dr. Godahewa emphasized the core strengths of Sri Lanka being, authenticity, compactness and diversity that no other country could match. Considering the growth statistics and trends he identified that growth potential lies in Asia and Middle East compared to Europe, therefore Sri Lanka Tourism will focus more on these regions, especially China in the next 5 years. Concluding his presentation Dr. Godahewa invited all stakeholders of the tourism industry to join hands towards one dream, "Refreshingly Sri Lanka – Wonder of Asia"

Nick Nicolaou, Chairman – CBB delivering the concluding remarks said that the Council organizes a series of similar events throughout the year for the benefit of its members, ranging from luncheon meetings with guests speakers on topical interest to sporting and social activities and informed members to await details of the next CBB event; a field visit to Jaffna to explore the opportunities present in the North.

Council for Business with Britain & Hambantota Chamber of Commerce Field Trip to Gain Information on Infrastructure & Development Work

08th October 2010, www.dailynews.lk

The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) in co-operation with the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) organized a field trip to Hambantota to expose key decision-makers among their membership to the major infrastructure and other developments that are taking place in the south of the country.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to the soon to be operational Hambantota Port which was followed by visits to the sites of the Hambantota Convention Centre and the Cricket Stadium, culminating with an interactive session with the members of Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce.

The CBB members first stop was the Hambantota Sri Lanka Ports Authority Project Office and were provided a first hand report of the port project and were shown a scale model detailing the various phases of the project.

Thereafter the members were taken round the port site to experience first hand the vast scale and nature of this undertaking.

The members then visited the new cricket stadium, still under construction, but already having a laid down cricket pitch, and also the new Convention Centre funded by the Korean Govt and being built according to a Korean design.

The expected opening of this Convention Centre will be in April 2011, and will hold 1,500 people and have the ability to host several smaller functions in eight committee rooms.

Finally the members visited the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce where they met Director General Azmi Thassim and members of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce.

The CBB members were shown a comprehensive video of the Chamber's activities and discussed ways that the two organizations could interact.

It was a timely visit, since the Hambantota District Chamber will shortly be embarking on a trade mission to the UK as guests of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

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Sri Lanka- British Business Sees Strong Growth. Council for Business with Britain to Play a Major Role

14th July 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) made up of firms doing business with the UK is expecting more business volumes between the two countries with the end of a three decade long war.

"As patron of the CBB, I am pleased to support this group in their on-going efforts to promote bilateral business relations between the UK and Sri Lanka," Acting British High Commissioner, Mark Gooding, said in a statement.

"Now is an important time in Sri Lanka’s economic development and the UK is already playing a role, through the companies represented by the CBB, but we can do more.

This will help further develop the strong existing economic and cultural links between our two countries at this exciting time for Sri Lanka."

The CBB has a membership of over 140 companies.

"The Council must look at ways to interact with its members in order to assist them in benefitting from the expected upturn in trade and business in general," the newly elected chairman of the CBB, Nick Nicolaou, who heads HSBC Bank was quoted as saying.

At the annual general meeting of the council held this week Shirendra Lawrence, managing director, MAS Active (Pvt.) Ltd. was elected vice chairman, a UK embassy said.

Mustanser Ali Khan, chief executive of Ceylon Tobacco Company was elected secretary, and Mohammed Ziauddin, managing director, Norfolk Foods (Pvt.) Ltd was elected treasurer.

Manesh Fernando, general manager, Hilton Residence Colombo; Romesh David, president, transportation and IT, John Keells Holdings; Janet Ford, Head of UK Trade and Investment, British High Commission, Colombo; Gill Westaway, Director, British Council, Sri Lanka; Lal de Alwis, President, National Chamber of Commerce and Anil Wijesinghe, chairman AWS Institute of Education were elected committee members.