Govt. to set up tourist service centres linked to road network, tourism hotspots

Thursday, 20 May 2021 00:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga

First phase to see 28 tourist service centres along Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Badulla and Kegalle Districts

The Government is to set up tourist service centres along the road network connecting the major tourist cities of the country.

The initiative intends to establish 28 tourist service centres along Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Badulla and Kegalle Districts in the first phase.

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga revealed this at a special discussion held recently via video technology participation with top officials from Urban Development Ministry, Tourism Ministry, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Urban Development Authority (UDA).

Ranatunga said the project will be implemented in accordance with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's policy framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’.

He highlighted the need to comply with international standards for the construction of these service centres with all the facilities required by tourists such as; sanitary, restaurants and money transfer centres. In addition, he stressed the need to set up such tourist service centres in suitable cities along the roads leading to the tourist zones.

The officials of the Urban Development Ministry stated that it is planned to construct 11 centres in Nuwara Eliya District, three centres in Kandy District and 12 centres in the Badulla District and two centres in the Kegalle District.

They pointed out that these centres would be built from Kitulgala to Nuwara Eliya (via Ginigath Hena), Gampola to Nuwara Eliya (via Pussellawa), Nuwara Eliya to Bandarawela (via Welimada) and Nuwara Eliya to Bandarawela and Ella (via Diyatalawa).

At present 15 tourist zones have been gazetted. These include; Kuchchaveli, Nilaveli, Trincomalee, Kalkudah, Arugambay, Yala, Unawatuna, Maduganga, Dedduwa, Bentota, Beruwala, Mount Lavinia, Negombo, Kalpitiya and Pinnawala. In addition, it has been proposed to declare Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Sigiriya, Deniyaya and Delft Island as tourist zones.

During the discussion, attention was also drawn to develop infrastructure highlighting the uniqueness of each destination, which the Minister also agreed to.

Although the tourism industry is the worst impacted from the COVID-19, Ranatunga expressed confidence that they hope to revive the sector to the same level before the pandemic.

“The Government has paid more attention to the revival of the tourism industry. Strategic policies and development of infrastructure facilities in tourist areas will remain uninterrupted despite the COVID-19 outbreak. We will do the best to make Sri Lanka a sustainable tourism destination in the years to come,” the Minister said.