Sri Lanka to Target 5 Million Tourists Yearly – Directives Issued by Nation’s President

As per directives given recently by Sri Lankan President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the country will be looking to target five million arrivals yearly in the near future. This was put in the spotlight on the Colombo Gazette news website on 17th August 2023; it was reporting on a meeting between the President and a committee that has been tasked to assess the progress of the nation’s tourism industry enhancement programme and propose key measures. According to the committee’s recommendations, the Ministry of Tourism and other bodies affiliated with it are in the process of coming up with a strategic plan to be put in place till 2025.

During the meeting, the short-, medium-, and long-term plans for tourism were discussed as well along with new trends and present initiatives; also brought up by the President was that officials in partnership with the private sector should identify a location to set up a prominent hotel school in the country. Tourism continues to play a vital role in the local economy which has received a boost this year with the increasing number of foreign arrivals. Such travellers are not only looking to experience the island’s famed beaches but also its enchanting mountain scenery and tea plantations which surround bungalows and villas in Nuwara Eliya; historical bungalows here dating to colonial times such as Scottish Planter remain a popular choice giving tourists a chance to enjoy Sri Lanka’s breathtaking hill country.