Tourism is on the rise again, but what does Colombo offer our overseas visitors?

12 December 2023 02:45 pm - 28 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka are on the rise again, but what does Colombo offer overseas visitors?

Sri Lanka appears on course to meet its 1.5 million tourist target for 2023, and have set their sights on increasing that number by 1 million next year.

But for all the history, culture and natural beauty the country has to offer, how much does Colombo contribute to the tourism industry?

There are the many shopping malls and extravagant restaurants, but other than this pointy thing sticking up in the air, what can a tourist see or do in Colombo city that is truly unique to Sri Lanka?

The lack of a nightlife – and you probably shouldn’t get Diana Gamage started on that – only narrows down the entertainment options available for tourists in the hours after the city comes to a standstill.

The few available options, nightclubs and pubs in particular, are too far spread out making access to tourists a challenge.

So what is the solution to this?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking at the 58th Hotel Association event recently, is reported to have asked hoteliers to think out of the box in developing a strategy to make the country, and Colombo in particular, a more attractive tourism spot.

These views were echoed by tourism minister Harin Fernando, who called on the tourism industry to be innovative, stating that the role of the government was merely to establish an environment for tourism.

Ironically, the minister made these comments at an event to launch a new campaign titled ‘You’ll come back for more’ in a bid to boost tourism, to promote the country as a tourist destination.

Despite being a tenth the size of Sri Lanka, Singapore has developed a tourism industry that raked in approximately 10 billion USD last year – dwarfing Sri Lanka’s revenue of 1.1 billion USD – and providing a blueprint for what a successful tourist industry could look like.

Building Colombo into a location that draws more tourists will not only help Sri Lanka’s tourism revenue, but will also benefit locals who are starved of the kinds of attractions enjoyed overseas.

Tourists may come back for more, but will Colombo have more to offer?

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Comments - 28

Lalith Wednesday, 13 December 2023 03:17 PM

Don't compare with Singapore... Every Singaporean is innovative and every minister hard working

Mangala Thenahandi Sunday, 03 March 2024 09:11 AM

Correct - SL does not have strong leaders with clear view and patriotoc strategy to develop the country for its people. Normal people ate fooled by repeating never ending mantra of increasing turism. Haloo, there are global economical crisis ongoing, flight fares has increased. If our politicians cannot see this, then howcome they are able to lead this this country?

A tourist Wednesday, 13 December 2023 07:21 PM

This is why Jaffna airport should be expanded for larger planes to land and improve tourism.

Sambo Saturday, 16 December 2023 07:36 AM

Well we could offer plenty of taxes with variable amounts.

Uditha Jayatunga Monday, 18 December 2023 01:47 AM

City of Singapore has several world class attractions. Colombo city can is severely short of them. Even attractions like Dehiwala zoo are not advertised in hotels as far as I know. A religious tour of many multifaith centres such as Temples, Churches and Kovils could be an attraction. Lotus Tower needs to be advertised in all hotels. During vesak, tour around many pandals must be an attraction. Colombo perahara too must be widely advertised in hotels

Gamini Jeerasinghe Saturday, 10 February 2024 01:24 PM

Colombo zoo used to be the star zoo in Asia in the early 60s. Not anymore. The caging and treatment of the animals at CMB Zoo is deplorable. No tourist wants to see that. The CMB museum is archaic and geared towards bedazzeling the village people. So it's not an attraction. No information on the prehistory of SL e.g Balangoda Man etc. In opinion CMB is about 65 - 70 years behind singapore. About 35 years behind KL. Parts of the city need to be made cleaner. Transportation sucks. Thank the Indians for putting polluting tuk tuks Blame our entitled politicians. Tourists don't come here to see Monks and temples.

Fred Tuesday, 19 December 2023 10:38 AM

There is so much you can do to improve Colombo just by doing the basics well , good clean(garbage free) roads well lit and sign posted well, pavements without potholes, orderly traffic which follow the rules, make sure everything is working and clean in public places toilets included and regard for public safety will bring everyone back not just the tourists Innovation can come after that, once you get the basics going

Rubio Ramirez Wednesday, 20 December 2023 12:41 AM

As a tourist that comes every year i can say the Visa ( only 1 month 50 USD ,after 100 USD) fee is to high and for extensoin you have to go Colombo or need an agent. You need also temporary SL driving License. That is also to pay. I can better give the the money to local shops, drivers etc.

Danny Nuggs Thursday, 21 December 2023 07:41 PM

Let's start from the airport. Dirty restrooms, old ragged carpets. Not the type of welcome as a tourist when you land. First impressions matter.

Ranoj de Silva Monday, 26 February 2024 12:19 AM

Totally agree about the airport ...expensive ... toilets dark, dingy and horrible not upto world wide standards. "Coffee bean" is having a laugh.at customers expense. Need more variety of food outlets.

Vino De Croos Friday, 22 December 2023 07:15 PM

Following is my suggestion: 1. Restaurants should post their hotel menus with prices online. 2. Visa extensions should be available online. It is very difficult to obtain an extension in Colombo. 3. Hotels should advertise and respond immediately to any queries

Cherath Tuesday, 26 December 2023 08:05 AM

A sky train or a subway system till midnight, food courts serving an array of local and other Asian dishes set up at 1 km apart, hot air balloon, boating and sea faring facilities, open air cultural performances with cookery demonstrations, prices and tariffs displayed at the entrances and most importantly, mobile toilets at each and every location of the listed. Removing the Visa fee for SAARC and commonwealth citizens for 4 weeks is a good start. Remember, you can float yourself into oblivion through over zealousness. Make everything good vfm. Sri Lanka, currently, is also known as 'The most expensive poor country in the World'.

We the tarts Saturday, 06 January 2024 02:46 PM

Male and female tarts

M Fernando Saturday, 02 March 2024 03:31 PM

No problem there. We are way ahead of you. RW has made the whole country a tart!

Smh Thursday, 11 January 2024 04:10 AM

Sri Lankans are prideful, lazy and arrogant. They complain about lack and the economy and their hardships. They expect tourists to give them money freely by appealing to emotion. If they don't succeed this way they cheat tourists out of money by overcharging or tricking them into paying double. You cannot build a country like Singapore with those traits. Hard work and discipline; not sympathy and cheating.

Concerned Sunday, 14 January 2024 07:28 AM

CLEANLINESS. Until and unless we can keep our roads, parks, hiking trails, waterways, rivers, beaches and the Public Toilets clean and well maintained SL will be a tourist deterrent not an attraction. Agree, start with the BIA.

Harper Christie Saturday, 20 January 2024 09:55 PM

Return air fares from London - Colombo are ridiculously high. - Sri Lankan airlines needs to drastically reeduce its air fares. The SL visa system needs a complete overhall - far too expensive to extend, and toruists don't appreciate losing a whole day in the visa processing centre in Colombo. Furthermore, when western tourists go to the visa centre, they see Sri Lankan bureaucracy at its worst.

Ganesh Friday, 02 February 2024 07:04 PM

Firstly it's got a lot to do with our laws and customs. Scrap these so called dry days. Open bars till late at least 1 am. Clean up Colombo, change clearly have a plan to identify the thosa kadai as an eatery and not a hotel. Provide a vibrant night life.

REEZ Saturday, 10 February 2024 07:09 AM

Addressing the issue of the pedestrian crossing in Fort man is imperative, as its current state has become a source of ridicule. Tourists find themselves waiting indefinitely for the green light, which never seems to materialize. I have personally informed numerous tourists to navigate the road cautiously due to the malfunctioning signal. Urgent attention and rectification of this situation are necessary to enhance the safety and convenience of both locals and visitors in the area.

Nina Gage Monday, 26 February 2024 04:10 PM

As an Australian travel provider, I never plan long in Colombo. Temple tours, food tours, Pettah, markets? Buy food ,cooking classes. Not eating at the upmarket restaurants.

Susil premathilaka Wednesday, 28 February 2024 11:33 AM

The best solution to increase attraction is to install best qaulity toilets all arounds tourist visit sites and maintain well after installations.

Sumanasiri Saturday, 16 March 2024 10:41 PM

Please elect Tamil sir as president and Basil sir as priminister and namal sir as finance minister. We can easily beat Singapore and become 100billion industry

COLOMBO CANNOT RISE TO HIGH END TOURISTS AT THIS POINT OF TIME Tuesday, 02 April 2024 12:24 PM

MAJORITY OF THESE OVERSEAS VISITORS/TOURISTS HAVE VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN COLOMBO, AS THEY HAVE FAR BETTER FACILITIES, CHEAPER, SAFER IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES/COUNTIRES AROUND THEIR OWN. MAJORITY OF THE VISITORS COME TO SEE THE ISLAND AND VISIT PLACES OF INTEREST. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY COME AS BACKPACKERS, HIPPIES,GYPSIES AND LOW INCOME TOURISTS WHO CAN ONLY GET CHEAPER DEALS IN PLACES OUTSIDE OF COLOMBO AND THEREFORE FLOOD THOSE PLACES, WHERE THEIR DOLLARS GO FAR FURTHER THAN IF THEY WERE TO STAY IN COLOMBO.

roberto F. Sunday, 07 April 2024 03:42 PM

It's very easy to criticize after 8 years of Sri Lanka with my family now my daughters are aged 18 to 20 and no longer want to go on holiday where after dinner at 9pm you have to go to sleep. question: can you imagine Las Vegas telling tourists at 9pm that everyone is ok to sleep? 2 weeks all tourist activities would have failed. in 90% of the world people look for entertainment in the evening. best rgds

ganaya Friday, 12 April 2024 11:39 AM

People do not see human executions.Start executing people at Galle face after 8pm.

Thenaja Saturday, 20 April 2024 12:25 PM

Who an earth want to stay in cosy city like Colombo as a turist? C’m, is this what srilankans are thinking? That turist need fancy overpriced hotelrooms and restaurants? And never ending traffic jams? Take you head out from the a.s and stop leaning to foreign money - you have that in srilanka enough. Don’t you understand that foreig investors takes profit out from the country leaving you nothing? This is already happening and thanks to Ranil, it will continue.

Vadivelu Yogaratnam Monday, 22 April 2024 02:27 PM

Make the public toilet clean and spotless to western standards at the moment status disgusting, appoint a special team to look after must be done by the council, is very important to boost tourism hope ministry will take care as mater of urgency .

Ceylonese Saturday, 27 April 2024 11:46 AM

All the famous buildings in Colombo are mostly in the Fort area built during the British era nearly one hundred years ago. The former Parliament House Galle Face Hotel Colombo Museum Colombo Town Hall Fort Railway Station Maradana Railway Station were all built by the British Colonial marters. They also built the Dehiwela Zoo and the Vihara Maha Devi Park at Town Hall. and major commercial centres like Millers and Cargills to name a few. But what have we got to offer the foreign tourist nothing but the Lotus Tower which is a gift from the Goverment of China and the Port City complex.from a loan obtained from China. If not for the international hotels thst have popped up in recent years Colombo would look like a ghost city both during the day and night. Thanks to the new addition to the skyline in Galle Face the Indian masterpiece the Ratnadeepa Marriot Hotel a subsidiary of ITC (Indian Tobacco Company) who owns over several hotels in India like the Oberoi and Taj.

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Tourism is on the rise again, but what does Colombo offer our overseas visitors?

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