The much awaited and long overdue Sri Lanka Tourism marketing campaign has finally got off the ground with applications been called from local Ad agencies.
Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) Kishu Gomes said that they will invest Rs. 1.3 billion for this campaign to cover 12 selected countries. “We will invest Rs. 100 million for each country and may increase it in some selected countries.”
He said preference would be given to Local Ad agencies and proposals are now been called. The decision to award these marketing contracts for these proposals would be taken by us making this process simpler.
“We hope this could be done within a month.” Asked for the reason towards the drop in Chinese arrivals despite mega campaigns, he said that the arrivals would pick up in the future. He also said one of the mega water sports events World Surf League (WSL) 2019 would be held in Arugambay which has attracted over 100 international surfers mainly from Europe and Australia. “While Chinese and Indian spend around US$ 175 per day in Sri Lanka these surfers would spend around US$ 1,000 per day.”
Meanwhile Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife & Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunge said that they will invest around Rs. 16 million to host series of events for the National Celebrations of World Tourism Day during September 27 and 28.
The opening of the newly refurbished Sulanka Bunglow in Bentota – the first tourism resort of Sri Lanka will also happen on 27 along with the world tourism day celebrations. The Minister was also optimistic that they could pass the two million arrival target and up to date there were 1. 3 million. “The Bora World congress has netted in around 16,000 not 22,000 as expected earlier.” Tourism Leaders’ Summit & International Tourism Research Conference will also be held at BMICH on September 28, hosted by University of Colombo.
A Food Street and Entertainment Programme will be held at Arcade Independence Square on September 27 and 28 from 6 pm- 10.30 pm “Overall tourism accounts for one in ten jobs worldwide and the tourism industry in Sri Lanka currently provides more than 500,000 job opportunities in Sri Lanka and this will increase by around 100, 000 soon,” said Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Johanna Jayaratne.
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