Prez. calls on tourism authorities to draft comprehensive plan to develop Ella

• Ranil gives four months’ time to draft plan
• Effort tasked to Tourism Ministry, Urban Development Ministry and Environment Ministry
• Says plan must include steps that will eventually transform Uva province into a preferred tourism destination.
• Stresses need to get tourists visiting Ella to much more than current US $ 20.

In an effort to improve Sri Lanka’s tourism offering, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday instructed officials to step up efforts in developing the tourism hotspot Ella.

Wickremesinghe gave the tourism officials a time period of four months, within which a comprehensive plan must be drawn up and submitted for approval. The effort has been tasked to the Tourism, Urban Development and Environment Ministries.

At a meeting held with the Ella Businessmen’s Association yesterday, Wickremesinghe pointed out the need to have a well-thought-out plan to develop the Ella tourism zone and stressed efforts may be taken to ensure development activities are carried out in an environmentally friendly manner. Under the first phase, the Ella tourism zone will be developed through a formal plan, after which steps will be taken to transform the entire Uva province as a preferred destination for tourists.

“Ella is a tourist area created by the people of this area. It now contributes widely to Sri Lanka’s economy. We hope to develop this tourist zone according to a new comprehensive development plan. I have instructed the officials to take steps to provide short-term solutions to the problems that have arisen in this area,” said Wickremesinghe addressing the members of the association.

“Today, tourists visiting the Maldives spend about US $ 500 a day. However, the tourists who come to the Ella area spend twenty dollars a day. We must change this situation,” added. According to Wickremesinghe, efforts should be taken to uplift the quality of service offered by the tourism stakeholders in the Uva province and the aim should be to get the visitors to spend at least seven days in the destination. Furthermore, he also noted that the new development plan should include a programme to develop the Mattala Airport from where tourists can be brought directly to Ella. “These plans would be effective for the country’s development both in the short term and in the long term,” he said.