Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe has reassured that Sri Lanka does not expect the newly imposed US reciprocal tariffs to have a long-term negative impact on its tourism sector.
Speaking at a government media conference on Wednesday (09), Prof. Ranasinghe stated that the focus is on attracting high-spending tourists, whose purchasing power is less likely to be affected by the tariffs.
He highlighted that Sri Lanka’s emerging tourism market is India, and a targeted campaign will soon be launched to tap into India’s top market.
The Deputy Minister also emphasized a shift in strategy from focusing on tourist numbers to enhancing revenue per tourist, noting that the goal is to boost the income from 3 to 4 million visitors rather than just increasing the volume.
While acknowledging that the tariffs may impact disposable income, he assured that the country’s high-end tourism market would remain stable.
Prof. Ranasinghe further noted a growing interest in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, with nearly USD 40 million in investments expected in 2024, and USD 25 million already secured in the past three months.
