Speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) held at the Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo, the Minister said that although tourists are spending less during their stay, European countries still remain among the top six source markets for Sri Lanka.
He noted that measures are being taken to improve facilities for travellers, including a major expansion of the Bandaranaike International Airport with assistance from JICA, aimed at easing congestion during peak tourist arrivals.
The Minister also said funds have been allocated through the national budget to support the development of domestic aviation services, with plans already underway to strengthen internal connectivity for tourists.
Highlighting the growth in accommodation capacity, he stated that 3,000 new hotel rooms have been added this year alone, including 1,300 rooms in five-star properties.
He added that the government is prepared to allocate land for new hotel projects in remote areas outside Colombo to encourage regionally balanced tourism development.
