Tourism in Sri Lanka is forecast to be the fourth highest revenue earner this year.
Given the high returns estimate and its importance to the country’s economic growth, a focused plan to develop this lucrative market has been implemented by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), official data says.
The country is also looking forward to improve tourism making it the third highest foreign exchange earner by 2016.
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Sri Lanka is hoping to earn more than 600 million this year with a number of 600,000 tourists attracted to the country.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L Peiris (former Minister of International Trade and Export Development) said last month that Sri Lanka is expecting more than 600,000 tourists for the winter season alone.
Strong investment and focused attention on marketing and reaching high yield markets, in countries such as UK, India, Middle East, Germany, Japan and China will help drive the strategic marketing plan, going forward, SLTDA said.
The SLTPB will pursue a major public relations drive that will strive to promote and build the country’s image.
With the added expertise of a local advertising agency, the SLTPD is committed to building Sri Lanka’s brand image and market reach. Currently, an in-house PR department has been placed; 6 PR agencies overseas are also in operation, officials said
As competition within the tourism environment is growing, globally, the SLTPB is committed to see more foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka and also develop new initiatives that would keep the domestic market on an upward trend,
(To read more about Sri Lanka tourism click More at the bottom of this post)
The SLTPB’s goal is to see its innovative and ambitious strategy materialize, even as potential travelers visit Sri Lanka, thus converting a global fondness for the country into actual visitation and increased spending and dispersal, they said.
A tactical promotional campaign with the assistance of the private sector of the travel trade was implemented to create confidence among the visitors to Sri Lanka. The tactical campaign included special packages, domestic tourism campaigns.
source -www.island.lk
Priority for tourism - Minister Basil Rajapaksa
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday vowed to take every possible effort to turn the tourism industry into the highest foreign income earner of the country.
He was addressing Tourism Ministry officials after assuming duties at the Ministry in Kollupitiya.
He said the Government will not confine development activities to one area of the country.
“Development activities will begin in all areas ensuring the dividends of country’s development to all masses equally.”
Minister Rajapaksa added that he has delegated all powers to Economic Development Deputy Ministers too to streamline this process. The Minister said the people have given the Government an unprecedented mandate to continue the development activities uninterrupted. “The UPFA received the highest mandate under the PR system in the country,” he added.
He said the people through giving a clear mandate to the UPFA in a number of crucial elections have stressed that the country requires economic development. The Minister said his Ministry is ready to bring the economic development to the country with the assistance of other Ministries.
All segments of the society including farmers, fishermen and labourers will be integrated into the economic development of the country, he added.
The Minister stressed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa wanted to uplift every person in the country.
“My Ministry will make special focus on construction, agriculture and textile industry through the Tourism Ministry,” he added.
“Capable Deputy Ministers and hard working officials will accelerate the development process of the country with the coordination of Samurdhi officials and local government institutions,” the Minister said.
source - http://www.dailynews.lk
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