The Tourism Ministry has selected nine tourist attractions to cover all nine provinces of Sri Lanka to be developed as sustainable tourist destinations.
Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga said the selected tourist attractions will be developed with the support of the United Nations Development Fund’s Biodiversity Financing Initiative.
The Minister revealed that the Sigiriya Sustainable Destination, Pilikuttuwa Local Heritage Destination, Wanathawilluwa Gangewadiya Destination, Ellawala Ella Nature Destination, Vavulpane Limestone Cave Destination, Delft Island, Madunagala Hot Springs, Panama Village and Mihintale are the nine selected destinations.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has already commenced the promotion of Sigiriya and Yala National Parks as the first eco-friendly sustainable tourist destinations free of the use of plastics.
Minister Ranatunga said the sustainable destination development will be implemented in line with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals which is outlined in President Gotahaya Rajapaksa’s Vision of Prosperity Policy Statement
He further pointed out that the eco-tourism industry has become more attractive to tourists and much attention is paid to this when approving tourism investments, following the Covid pandemic.
Stating that the relevant Provincial Tourism Authorities have already been entrusted with the responsibility of developing these sustainable destinations, Minister Ranatunga said necessary arrangements are already underway in this regard. (NewsWire)
