Sri Lanka to develop huge tourism zones
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Sri Lanka has unveiled plans to launch a series of themed tourism development zones, in a bid to draw more international investment and tourists to the island.
At least five and up to eight “Themed International Tourism and Family Entertainment Zones” will be developed on plots of state-owned land covering more than 600 hectares. These include beaches, mountainous areas and forested regions, all selected for their outstanding natural beauty.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Club is now working with government ministries to deliver these tourism zones, and to open them up to foreign investment. Their full plans will be revealed at the inaugural Asia Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC), which is scheduled to take place in Colombo this month.
“Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is very much private-sector driven. The government role is restricted to that of regulator, monitor and facilitator,” explained Tourism Minister John Amaratunga. “I have formed an advisory committee of leaders of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries whose input is sought on a regular basis on all matters of national interest in the tourism sector. They are the driving force that guides the industry.
“We are accelerating and widening the scope for investors by actively making reforms to reduce bureaucracy. We want to speed up decision making,” he added.
The first zone in the five-year development plan is Lanka Patuna, which is already under construction on 180 hectares of beachfront land. It will be able to house up to 30 luxury hotels.
Minister Amaratunga said that Sri Lanka is aiming to generate up to US$10 billion in international tourism revenues by 2020, with five million overseas visitors. The number of hotel rooms currently available in the country is forecast to double during this period.
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