Friday, February 25, 2011

Country needs to build capacity: Softlogic enters leisure sector

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Sri Lanka needs to build capacity to meet the growing demand in the tourism sector with the expected influx of tourist arrivals.

The world’s largest 152 inch 3D VIErA model television with ultra large full HD 3D professional plasma was launched in Sri Lanka by Panasonic and Softlogic Holdings. The newly developed ultra high speed drive technology achieves clear and highly detailed 3D video. Panasonic Corporation Corporate Management Division for Asia and Oceania of Panasonic Corporation General Manager Kazuhiro Yamanishi and Uni Walkers (Pvt) Ltd Director P. Nirmalan flanked by two models at the launching ceremony. Picture by Rukmal Gamage

Softlogic catering to the need of more rooms plans to enter the leisure sector in a big way. The company has already signed up for a Colombo hotel with a 220 room capacity. This will be a five star business hotel, Softlogic Holdings Chairman Ashok Pathirage told Daily News Business.

Softlogic will be a strong player in the country’s leisure sector and plans to benefit from the growth momentum, he said.

“We are planning to build this hotel as an international class luxury hotel on par with global standards. This hotel will be on equity and manage basis with tie ups with international partners. The company sees more opportunities in acquiring existing hotels and there are also plans to build a few more resorts and hotels in Colombo.

Softlogic took over the Sea Sand Hotel recently and has given it a facelift to attract tourists.

Sri Lanka will be able to sustain the tourism growth and the country should focus on offering differentiated products to attract more tourists to the country.

Tourism industry will become the most vibrant industry in the country in the coming years. Sri Lanka has huge potential in diverse sectors, which have not been explored at present. We need a comprehensive study to unleash this potential. “We have not tapped even ten percent of the country’s potential. Sri Lanka could do much better compared to other leading tourist destinations in the region,” he said.

The industry has set targets to be achieved on periodic basis. These targets could be met with expected economic benefits. However, the country needs more investment for the tourism industry to build capacity. There is a need to develop infrastructure facilities and regional airport development also is necessary. Tourism growth will evolve around these developments and the country can become a top tourist destination, Pathirage said.

source - www.dailynews.lk

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