Sri Lanka to focus on niche tourism to bring more foreign exchange

June 30, 2007 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Ministry of Tourism is kicking off a new drew to promote high spending niche tourism to the country with the appointment of a new advisory council led by the private sector. At the moment approximately 300,000 people in Sri Lanka depend on the tourism industry the ministry officials said. These tourists they do not travel in groups, they travel either individually or as couples but they spend three to four times a day than a normal ˜package’ tourist, says additional secretary to the Ministry of Tourism George Michael.

Only Three percent of tourists spend 30 percent of the money spent by all tourists in the world yet Sri Lanka is yet to benefit form this segment.

The Ministry is looking at improving the tourism sector with the support of every Sri Lankan that would care to extend their support.

We have created a platform for every professional to come and collaborate to the tourism industry, Michael said.

At the moment 120 volunteers has joined and the ministry says the responsibility lies in every citizen to uplift the industry.

The new advisory panel on niche tourism products consisting of volunteers is headed by Thilan Wijesinghe CE