Thirty new tourism projects feasible in Sri lanka

Minister of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prasanna Ranatunga said that these projects would be implemented as Board of Investment approved projects and will bring in USD 122 million FDI’s.

 

He said that since the new government was appointed three months ago to date FDI’s pledged so far is USD 370. Ranatunga said that these projects help to add 550 star class rooms and also 400 individual luxury villas. “We are now in the process of clearing land and helping the investors to obtain other related approvals.”

 

In addition the Ministry is talking to two overseas investors with regard to two mega tourism related investments to the tune of Rs. 4,140 million.

 

“Tourism relegated investments while bringing in FDI also helps to create many high paying direct and indirect employment opportunities. In addition, with global brands setting up hotels in Sri Lanka destination marketing also improves and hence the government is keen to egg on more tourist sector investments both locally and globally.”

 

Tourism also helps to bring in additional revenue to the cottage industry and it has several positive ripple effects. The Minister also said that with regional airports in Jaffna and Mattala reopening for international traffic they also expect more hotels to open in these areas and existing hotels to add capacity to meet the growing number of passengers.

 

“We have offered many concessions including free landing charges and other inventive to woo more airlines to fly to Sri Lanka.

Recently Singapore’s’ and India’s Go Air launched direct flights from both New Delhi and Bengaluru to Colombo while Reliance Air, subsidiary of Air India also increase their Chennai Palali frequency to Daily. A Maldivian airline is also planning to fly to Ratmalana and Matala soon. (Government Source)