Tourism noted to be high Forex earner for Sri Lanka – Beating out the apparel sector

Tourism in Sri Lanka has emerged as the second-highest foreign exchange earner for the country, surpassing apparel exports, which have declined by approximately 20%. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Chalaka Gajabahu, highlighted this shift, emphasizing that tourism now holds a pivotal position in the country’s economic landscape through the various Sri Lanka luxury resort options, such as the Cinnamon Bentota Beach.

Gajabahu emphasized the importance of promoting tourism as a means of bringing people to Sri Lanka, distinguishing it from importing products and services. Despite challenges during economic crises and security concerns, the focus on India has proven successful, with India now being the leading source destination for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Tourism sector has allocated a significant Rs. 16 billion marketing budget, strategically invested for targeted promotion across various countries, considering their seasonal patterns.