In a bid to enhance marine tourism, Sri Lanka's Tourism Promotion Bureau, led by Managing Director Nalin Perera, is actively working to remove obstacles, particularly those affecting leisure activities on yachts. Yacht cruise operators have raised concerns about a specific requirement imposed by Sri Lanka's Directorate of Merchant Shipping, aligned with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
This requirement, not mandated by other popular destinations like Thailand or Red Sea nations, has been cited as a hindrance to 'live aboard' cruises.
Addressing the issue, Nalin Perera explained that Sri Lanka lacked a proper classification criteria for marine tourism, a gap which has now been addressed. He mentioned that the classification process has been finalized, with ongoing efforts to seek assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in clearing any remaining hurdles.
Highlighting the potential of Sri Lanka's waters, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando pointed out the presence of numerous sunken wrecks that could be leveraged to promote diving activities, further contributing to the country's appeal as a marine tourism destination.
