Sri Lanka tourism aims to be highest forex earner by 2020: John

Marching forward the tourism industry targets 2020 to be its golden year as it’s looking to score twin objectives to double tourist arrivals and make tourism the country’s highest foreign exchange earner.

Delivering his key note address at the inaugural Hotel Investment and Networking Conference on Wednesday  Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga said recently that regulators and stakeholders are pushing to double arrival numbers from 2.2 million this year to 4.2 million by 2020.

“According to the latest data tourist arrivals stood at a record 1.8 million last year. This year our target is 2.2 million tourists. By 2020 we hope to nearly double this and welcome 4.2 million tourists. These are realistic figures based on current trends and credible research. I need not tell you that going by these figures alone, the future is indeed bright,” the Minister added.

However Amaratunga stressed that one of the primary obstructions to reach aforesaid goals is the lack of skilled staff in the hospitality industry. Currently there are an estimated 320,000 individuals employed in the industry and statistics claim the figure will increase to 640,000 in 2020 by growth estimates. According to SLTDA records this is a direct result of the forthcoming new hotel properties around the country which would add up to 11,000 new rooms with other amenities to existing room inventory.

Additionally he then noted that to minimise the impact on local hoteliers the Ministry has kicked off initiating many training facilities for the aspiring youth.

“We’re working hard to fit in as many courses as possible in to a calendar year but we have realised the maximum capacity we could cater to is only around one third of the requirement. There are many private sector institutions that have stepped in to fill the void but there is still room for many more to play a part in this national endeavour. On my instructions the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management has introduced a one month foundation course in hospitality for the new recruits to the industry and I’m happy to note that so far all those who have completed this course have been grabbed by the industry.”

The Minister also revealed that Colombo need not to be the only destination to train potential youth who wishes to enter the industry. According to him under the Sri Lanka Institute of Hotel Management there will be new training institutions initiated at close proximity of new hotels which are scheduled to be opened soon.

“Based on this strategy, in the past three months we have opened such training schools in Hambantota and Pasikudah and later this month we will be opening one in Negombo. We are also planning to open a school in Arugam Bay shortly,” he added.