Tourism boost as SLTDA seizes new opportunities

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is actively pursuing new opportunities with the rise of visitor numbers, says a top official. SLTDA is the sole authority to process and approve tourism-related development projects, he pointed out.

Given its desire to see the industry grow, the SLTDA is encouraging local and foreign investors to launch various development Projects.

Investors can play a vital role in this process as the country’s situation has stabilised now, said Sri Lanka Tourism Board director T Suriyagoda.

Investors can also locate their ventures in the liberated northern and eastern provinces withou t any fear, Suriyagoda pointed out.

SLTDA offers all facilities to potential investors as the tourism business is expected to overtake all other leading industries in the near future.

The growing number of tourist arrivals is boosting the earnings of hotels and other businesses linked to the industry.

The SLTDA provides business support to all related parties during the setting up of their tourism-related activities, Suriyagoda said.

Ensuring that procedures are easily understood and providing adequate assistance are vital to the SLTDA and its staff, and to the success of Sri Lanka tourism, Suriyagoda said.

The Authority is committed to achieving a six-fold increase in revenues within the next 10 years.

Suriyagoda said all guesthouse holders have an opportunity to register themselves to benefit from the tourism boom.

Sri Lanka offers a variety of hotels to tourists.

Tourists travelling around Sri Lanka can choose from a wide range of quality accommodation facilities in different parts of the country to suit their budget.

Boutique hotels, villas, spas, luxury hotels and lower grade hotels can be found all across the island.

A typical guesthouse has five bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a common living and dining area. Priced low in comparison to hotels, guesthouses are comfortable and offer low-budget holidays.

SLTDA is aggressively seizing opportunities and leverages Sri Lanka’s competitive advantages.

It also strives to adopt a visitor/tourist centric approach and adopts best global practices.

This approach will help build a more diverse product range and grow traditional markets and open up new markets, thus making Sri Lanka more accessible.

The SLTDA will also utilise effective partnerships with clear accountabilities and deliverables.

With the high goal of achieving 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016, plans are underway to develop 15,000 rooms.

Although the SLTDA is largely focused on tourism hotel projects in Kalpitiya and Pasikuda, the board is pushing for other investments too and plans to develop the existing registered accommodation centres.

Unregistered lodges also are being to register with the SLTDA so that they can be helped to reach better standards.

SLTDA is working on all the potential opportunities to boost the industry’s capacity to achieve the targets set for 2016 and all who register with the board will stand to gain in an expanding market, Suriyagoda said.