The Maldives and Sri Lanka will start promoting tourism jointly, said Abdul Hameed Zakariyya, Deputy Minister of Tourism. Speaking after the formation of a Sri Lanka Maldives Joint Task Force on Tourism at Sri Lanka Tourist Board yesterday he said that both countries have different produces to offer and a duel destination packages could be easily marketed. The Deputy Minister said that while Sri Lanka offers nature culture, adventure, the Maldives offers beach. “We are not competitors and hence a two way destination package could be easily offered,” he said.
Other advantages of this join venture as per the Dept. Minister are:
- Friendly tie between the already friendly two countries Healthy air links between the two countries.
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Sri Lanaka Hotel School will offer 25 positions to train Maldivian staff.
- Easy access to
Sri Lanka for interested Maldivian investors.
The Minister said that many Maldivian Hoteliers are keen to invest in Sri Lanka. “Already an investor had leased a land in the eastern province to construct a hotel,” he said. In addition, Universal Hotels in the Maldives too are looking at investing in
Sri Lanka. As part of the MOU signed in year 2004 by both countries, Maldives Tourism Promotion Board will support to campaign
Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Faizer Musthapha said that both the countries have decided to meet twice a year with the intention of promoting duel destination tourism.He said that Sri Lanka would be also talking to the Maldives Tour operators’ with the intention of promoting Sri Lanka through them. “We are also hoping to offer special packages to the Maldivians as well,” he said. He said Sri Lanka owns 12 per cent of the Maldives hotels and similar packages too could be offered to Sri Lankans.
