During the 2011/12 winter season the Colombo city occupancy levels topped 90 per cent, while the resort occupancies surged to some 85 per cent increasing the overall occupancy level of the country to average 85-90 per cent showcasing the strong growth trjectory for this year, according to a TKS Securities Research Ltd report. “The growth [...]

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Last winter season shows strong tourism growth trajectory for this year – Analysts

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During the 2011/12 winter season the Colombo city occupancy levels topped 90 per cent, while the resort occupancies surged to some 85 per cent increasing the overall occupancy level of the country to average 85-90 per cent showcasing the strong growth trjectory for this year, according to a TKS Securities Research Ltd report.

“The growth in earnings was predominantly driven by the impressive growth in arrival numbers and was ably assisted by the increase in service charges. However, the ‘per’ tourist spending has been growing at a relatively slower pace of 9 per cent over the period following the war,” the report said. The tourism sector enjoyed an impressive 46 per cent increase in total earnings at some Rs 91.9 billion or US$838.9 million last year, over 2010 and was the fastest growth industry in the economy.

As a single country India is the largest tourist generating market for Sri Lanka and is rapidly growing, where it currently accounts for 20.8 per cent (19.4 per cent in 2010) of tourist arrivals but this year the Indian arrivals are more or less static, the report added. It said that the United Kingdom was the second largest market accounts for 12.5 per cent (16.1 per cent in 2010) of the annual tourist arrivals and Germany holds on to the third position and in fourth place.

The report added that the country has 259 graded hotels with an accommodation capacity of 15,079 rooms. Further, a near 6,000 supplementary rooms are available to cater to the increasing demand. “Out of the total graded tourist hotels 22 per cent are 5-star, 12 per cent are 4-Star and the balance is 2-Star or below.”

With the clearing of the land mass from the rebel held areas in the North and East, the government has initiated “Uthuru Vasanthaya” and “Nagenahira Navodaya” development programmes (the development agenda for the North and the East), which has identified many areas with tourism potential such as Pasikudah, Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Kokilai lagoon in the East and many other locations in the North.

The report said that the overall annual room occupancy rate rose to some 77 per cent in 2011 from about 70 per cent in 2010. All regions of the country, including the East Coast, have recorded overwhelming room occupancy in 2011 in comparison with the corresponding figures of 2010.

Investments underway

Shangri La Colombo – A 661-room 5 star city hotel on a 6 acre land
Shangri La – Hambantota – A 351-room 5 star resort on a 145 acre land
Hyat Regency Colombo – A 565-room 5 star city hotel on a 3 acre land
John Keells Colombo – A 240-room business hotel on an 80 perch land in a JV with Sanken
Cinnamon Bey, Beruwala – A 190-room 5 star resort on an 11 acre land
Marriot Weligama – A 200-room 5 star resort on a 3 acre land
Aitken Spence/Soneva Ahungalla – A 69-unit boutique resort on a 36.5 acre land
Centara Bentota – A 166-room 4 star resort on a 4 acre land
Centara Passikuda – A 126-room 3 star resort on a 6 acre land
Centara Katunayaka – 4-5 star hotel on a 11 acre land
Sheraton Colombo – A 306-room 5 star hotel on a 5 acre land
Jetwing Colombo – A 96-room 4 star hotel
Jetwing Yala – Rebuilding Yala Safari with 70 rooms
Jetwing Jaffna – A 76-room 3 star resort on a 46 perch land
Jetwing Uppuveli – A 68-room resort
Uga Resorts Trincomalee – A 50-room 4 star resort
Uga Resorts Yala – A 5 star resort
Uga Resorts Passikuda – A 50-chalet 3 star resort
Minor International – Avani Kalutara – A 105-room 3 star resort on an 8 acre land
Ananthara Kalutara – A 150-room 5 star resort on a 10 acre land
Movenpick/Softlogic Colombo – A 224-room business hotel on a 90 perch land




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