‘Global Tourism Promotional Campaign’ soon

By Mario Andree

The Ministry of Tourism has finally decided to conduct a proper ‘Global Tourism Promotional Campaign’ to help the troubled hospitality industry to recover and for this purpose a nine-member committee has been formed.

Sri Lanka has been planning to launch a ‘Global Tourism Promotional Campaign’ since 2016. However, the programme was postponed over and over again despite obtaining necessary approvals for the launch.

Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the Cabinet approved a proposal for a five-year focused and evidence-based ‘Global Tourism Promotion Campaign’, however due to issues it could not get off the ground.

The tourism industry was one of the hardest hit sectors from the global COVID-19 pandemic and for Sri Lanka the hit came on top of the 2019 Easter Sunday blow which shattered the sector.

Understanding the need to help Sri Lanka’s tourism industry recover, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga has appointed a high powered Steering Committee to plan and launch the much-awaited ‘Global Tourism Promotional Campaign’.

The Government hopes that the campaign would help Sri Lanka attract more than 7,500 tourists per month from its traditional markets.

Sri Lanka opened its doors for international tourists on 21 January this year after a hiatus of 10 months hoping to attract one million visitors by end of 2021.

Since opening its borders, Sri Lanka has welcomed slightly more than 4,000 tourists so far.