Find Tourism and Travel partners in Sri Lanka

Overview

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimated that in 2011 the total contribution of the travel and tourism industry was 8% of Sri Lanka’s GDP. The WTTC ranked Sri Lanka 101 out of 181 countries in terms of relative contribution of tourism to the economy or percentage of GDP, below the world average. This figure is set to rise by 5.9% per annum over the coming decade. The sector supports 7.5% of total employment which is forecast to rise in line with industry growth, meaning that by 2022 approximately 700, 000 people will be employed directly or indirectly in the travel and tourism sector (WTTC estimate 2011). Visitor exports generated 12.6% of total exports in 2011, which is expected to increase to 14.3% by 2022. In 2011 Sri Lanka received 856, 000 visitors. 

Investment

Tourism is promoted internationally by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, while the Ministry of Economic Development is responsible for managing tourism policy and strategy internally. Professional bodies in the sector include the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and the Tour Guide Association. The bureau markets Sri Lanka as a place of history, culture, adventure and relaxation. Sri Lanka attracts tourists from around the world, particularly from the UK, other parts of Europe, North America and Asia. The tourism sector is developing and given the lush natural environment, great biodiversity and an enthusiasm for elephant back safaris there is scope for investment in ecotourism. 

In 2011 investment in the travel and tourism industry was LKR68.6bn, constituting 4.1% of total investment. This was expected to rise by 8.5% in 2012, and then continue to rise by 5.5% pa over the following ten years, reaching LKR127.2bn by 2022.