20,000 tourist hotels operate without registration

As many as 20,000 tourist hotels have not been registered with the government, a Minister said yesterday. Industrial Exports, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said only 2000 hotels had been registered with the government at the moment.

He instructed the authorities concerned to take steps for the registration of hotels with due attention for their quality standards. Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has already initiated action in this regard. The Minister has given instruction for the completion of the task within the next three months.