Sri Lanka to see tourism surge with eco-friendly initiatives in 2024 – Adaderana Biz

• Foreign visitors account for 40% of the total number of tourists coming to China in the first half of the year.
• Ambitious plans have been unveiled to increase forest cover to 32% by 2030.
• Sri Lanka receives prestigious United Nations award for mangrove restoration.
• For the first time in 13 years, a comprehensive survey of the elephant population is being conducted – Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

According to Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Wildlife, Forests and Irrigation, a significant increase in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting the attractions managed by the Department of Forest Conservation is expected by 2024.

She noted that 364,521 tourists visited the city in the first half of 2024, 40% of whom were tourists.

Speaking at a press conference as part of the press conference series entitled “Two Years of Progress and Way Forward” held yesterday (28) at the Presidential Media Centre, Minister of Conservation, Forestry and Irrigation Pavithra Wanniarachchi further explained:

Compared to the past two years, 2024 is expected to see a significant increase in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting attractive destinations managed by the Department of Forest Conservation. In 2022, 289,405 tourists visited these destinations and in 2023, the number increased to 444,053. In the first six months of 2024 alone, 364,521 tourists visited these destinations.

Of these visitors, 19.8% were foreign tourists in 2022. This percentage rose to 27.8% in 2023 and has reached 40% so far in 2024.

In order to strengthen the economy by earning foreign exchange, we have made regulations to stimulate the ecotourism industry. We have obtained the approval of the parliament and made the necessary amendments to the law.

In 2023, the 2,500-hectare Gal Oya National Park was opened to the public as a new tourist destination. In addition, an information centre was established at the entrance to the Kudava Dorana ela in the Sinharaja forest, attracting more visitors. In 2024, the Manigala Forest Lodge was built in the Ilukkumbura area of ​​the Knuckles Forest Reserve and a cycling track was opened in Udawattakele, Kandy, for tourists. This year, the Bandarawela Falls Lodge and the Galwila Ecological Park in Puttalam district were also opened.

To address the sanitation issues of foreign tourists, special sanitation facilities have been set up specifically for foreign passport holders at popular tourist destinations such as Sinharaja, Kanneliya, Hurulu, Knuckles and Udawattakele. In addition, an online ticket booking system called “Day Visitor E-Permits” is now available for Yala, Udawalawe, Horton Plains, Kaudulla, Minneriya and Wilpattu National Parks.

Efforts are also being made to increase forest cover from the current 29% to 32% by 2030. This will involve acquiring approximately 144,000 hectares of new forest land that was not previously under our management.

To encourage people to plant trees outside the forests, the Cabinet has approved the preparation of the related law, which has been submitted to the Legal Draftsmen Department, and the draft has now been completed. This year, modern technology, including the use of drones, has been deployed to protect forests. In addition, concerted efforts are underway to protect non-reserved forests in the North-East and North-Central provinces. Forest boundaries are being identified and declared as protected areas, with boundary channels planted around them to create a permanent forest system.

We have placed special emphasis on mangrove ecosystem restoration and our efforts have received international recognition. In the past two years, we have planted 326 hectares of mangrove and this year Sri Lanka was honored with the United Nations Flagship Award for our contributions to mangrove restoration during the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

The National Zoological Gardens Department under our Ministry was also adversely affected by the economic crisis of the country. Although the income was low during those years, in 2023 we earned Rs.1, 089.97 million. By the end of June 2023, the income reached Rs.436.71 million and by the end of June 2024, it had increased to Rs.728.60 million, which represents a growth of 66% compared to the previous year.

The State Timber Corporation is expected to post a net profit by the end of the year, on the back of revenues of Rs.2, 000 million earned so far in 2024. Moreover, the measures taken to control the elephant plague – a major problem in our country – should help reduce human and wild elephant mortality from 2023 onwards. In support of this effort, over 4,700 workers have been hired to maintain the existing 5,390 km of electric fencing. We also plan to conduct a survey of the country’s elephant population for the first time in 13 years within the next two months. Moreover, the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance has been amended and new laws have been introduced to combat wildlife crimes more effectively.

Secretary of the Ministry of Wildlife, Forest Resources Conservation and Irrigation Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Director General of Wildlife MGC Sooriyabandara, Conservator General of Forests EAPN Edirisinghe, Director of National Zoo Anoma Priyadarshani and Deputy Director General (Marketing) of State Timber Corporation were also present at the press conference.