The Tourism Ministry yesterday announced that an incentive scheme will be launched to encourage hotels and travel agencies to attract more tourists to the country.​​

In an effort to increase the number of visitors into Sri Lanka so the industry can maintain a steady recovery path, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the scheme would be formalised via a Cabinet proposal, which will be presented in the near future.

 The programme will be introduced to local destination management companies (DMCs), hoteliers and online travel agents (OTAs) where sum of Rs. 400 million is allocated for the project under the funds of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), the minister said making the announcement via a media statement.

“This will be a promotional activity that will increase growth and benefits of current tourist arrivals in the short term,” Ranatunga said.

While the initiative of this nature is not the first the authorities have made available to the sector, the minister elaborated that via the project, stakeholders will be encouraged to be directly involved with the industry.

 The tourism sector aims at reaching a revenue target of US$ 10 billion by 2025 and increase the annual arrivals to 6 million.