Harin says boycott of the Maldives boosts SL Travel Industry

Date:

May 16, Colombo (LNW): Calls for Indian travellers to boycott the Maldives are “absolutely” benefiting Sri Lanka’s travel industry, CNBC reported citing comments from Tourism Minister Harin Fernando.

“The Maldives issue is … helping us,” Fernando told CNBC, referring to a social media dispute in January that led to a significant drop in Indian visitors to the Maldives this year.

India was the Maldives’ largest source market in 2023 but has now fallen to sixth place, behind China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany, according to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Tourism.

In contrast, nearly 34,400 Indian travellers visited Sri Lanka in January, more than double the 13,759 who visited in January last year, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

Arrivals in the first quarter of 2024 surpassed the same period in 2023, despite a temporary visa price increase in April.

Fernando also highlighted the strong relationship between Sri Lanka and India in both business and tourism.

“Sri Lanka is a significant market for Indian travellers,” he said, adding that his country offers more value when it comes to India.

He mentioned the country’s beaches, casinos, shopping, and the Ramayana Trail, a series of sites referenced in the ancient Hindu epic.

Additionally, the two countries are well connected, Fernando explained, further elaborating that the connectivity between the two nations is the trigger factor.

Previously, Fernando fell under public’s scrutiny for commenting at a conference that Sri Lanka is ‘a part of India’.

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

Govt. Prepares National Tariff Policy to Boost Trade and Attract Investment

By: Staff Writer July 18, Colombo (LNW):The Sri Lankan government is...

Lanka Ashok Leyland Plans Electric Bus Rollout amid Push for Greener Public Transport

By: Staff Writer July 18, Colombo (LNW): Lanka Ashok Leyland PLC,...

Digital Transformation Hits a Wall: Company Registrar System Collapse Sparks Concerns Over Government’s Vision

To curb corruption and deliver more efficient, transparent public...

Sri Lanka Steps Up Anti-Money Laundering Fight with Oman Pact and Global Collaborations

In a significant move to strengthen its capabilities in...