Govt. attaches highest importance to tourism: Ranil

Tuesday, 5 May 2015 02:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week declared that the new Government attached the highest importance to tourism and stressed the need to lure more upmarket tourists, especially from the West, to the country. “We attach the highest importance to the tourist industry. We are looking at tourism as a major earner of foreign exchange and employment generation,” the Premier said during a ceremony to welcome

Minor Hotels Group Chairman and CEO William E. Heinecke, who travelled to the country on the invitation of Hemas Holdings Plc. “We are selling the destination too cheap hence we must increase the yield by drawing more upmarket tourists apart from catering to budget tourists,” said the Prime Minister, adding that what Minor and Hemas were doing via setting up luxury resorts would help Sri Lanka go upmarket. Wickremesinghe also said that Sri Lanka must improve its ties with the West and emphasised that Europe must be Sri Lanka’s main source of tourism. “I am not suggesting we should give up China or India. However, my experience is that wherever Europeans visit, the Chinese and Indians follow suit,” the Premier added. He said that the Government was looking at all aspects of tourism including ensuring more activities. “In many parts of the country after 7:00 p.m. there is nothing to do for tourists. Therefore we must have entertainment activities to keep tourists occupied. We are also looking at setting up a new hotel school. Our overall policy will be announced after the general elections and there will be some surprises,” the Prime Minister revealed. He said the Galle Literary Festival would be held once again whilst a Military Tattoo and a Biriyani festival were also on the cards.