COLOMBO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka aims to increase annual tourist arrivals to 4 million and boost tourism earnings to 8 billion U.S. dollars by 2030, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced on Friday while presenting the 2026 national budget to Parliament.
Stressing that tourism remains a critical pillar for economic recovery and long-term growth, Dissanayake outlined a series of destination development and workforce expansion programs to strengthen the industry, adding that key reforms are also underway to improve coordination among tourism institutions.
A major tourism destination development initiative will focus on nature-based attractions and historical heritage. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority will allocate 3.5 billion Sri Lankan rupees (about 11.6 million dollars) to enhance coastal and marine environments in the Western Province, including the Hamilton Canal and the Negombo Lagoon.
To address a projected need for over 800,000 skilled workers in the tourism and hospitality sector by 2030, the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management has launched a Hospitality Multi-Purpose Programme, said the president.
This short-term vocational training will be delivered through accredited public and private institutions island-wide, with 500 million rupees (over 1.6 million dollars) allocated from the Tourism Development Fund. ■