Tourism
From The Report: Sri Lanka 2018
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As Sri Lanka’s second-largest industry after textiles and garments, tourism represents an opportunity to generate revenue and create jobs. The country is fast becoming a popular destination for international travellers, as well as for expatriates returning home to visit friends and family, suggesting that Sri Lanka is in the process of moving from the margins of global tourism to becoming a primary destination in its own right. The World Travel & Tourism Council put the sector’s overall contribution at LKR1.4trn ($9.1bn), or 11.4% of GDP in 2016, with an estimated increase of 5.5% in 2017.

This chapter contains an interview with Sutheash Balasubramaniam, Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Full steam ahead: The fast-growing industry is poised to become a key contributor to economic expansion
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As Sri Lanka’s second-largest industry after textiles and garments, tourism represents an opportunity to generate revenue and create jobs. The country is fast becoming a popular destination for international travellers, as well as for expatriates returning home to visit friends and family, suggesting that Sri Lanka is in the process of moving from the margins of global tourism to becoming a primary destination in its own right. The government has also recognised potential investment opportunities…

Interview

Global branding: Sutheash Balasubramaniam, Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, on developing national tourism
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Interview:Sutheash Balasubramaniam How can the public and private sectors collaborate to better promote the country’s brand globally? SUTHEASH BALASUBRAMANIAM: National tourism policies and the sector’s strategic plan will strive towards the consolidation of tourism-related ministries and state agencies. Quality engagement of the relevant bodies can drive motivation, and working with shared goals can secure win-win platforms for both the public and private sector. This will set the stage…

Analysis

Central focus: Additional air routes and niche offerings expected to increase the number of Indian visitors
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Despite recent setbacks, including the four-month closure of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in 2017 and unusual flooding in the south, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues to post sizeable gains. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), total tourist arrivals grew by 3.2% to hit 2.1m in 2017, with 384,628 coming from India, an increase of 7.8% on 2016, 268,952 from China, a decrease of 1%, and 201,879 hailing from the UK, representing an increase of 7.3%…