COLOMBO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that the government will unveil a new tourism plan called "Visit Sri Lanka" in the upcoming months, a statement from the President's Media Division (PMD) said on Monday.
Emphasizing the tourism industry as a significant economic driver, Wickremesinghe said the government aims to bring in 5 million tourists, of whom 2.5 million will be high-end visitors.
"Transformation of the tourism industry is required to make Sri Lanka competitive in the global travel marketplace, and the government has recognized the potential in promoting the country as a tropical nation with a diverse culinary style. Hence attention will be given to developing culinary tourism in the country," the president was quoted by the PMD as saying.
Noting that there is a need to train more personnel in the hospitality field, particularly in culinary tourism, the president said the government is prepared to launch a culinary school in collaboration with the private sector, the travel industry and the hotel industry.
Sri Lanka's tourism industry is aiming to attract 2 million visitors in 2023, as compared to the previous target of 1.5 million.
Tourism, one of Sri Lanka's leading foreign exchange earners, has suffered a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic and political crises in the country. ■