RIYADH, 8 August 2005 — Sri Lanka is to carry out a large-scale campaign in the Kingdom to promote the island as an ideal tourist destination for Saudi families. The new ambassador, A.M.J. Sadiq, presented a copy of his credentials to Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday.
“The natural resources of the country and its tourist attractions could be a major attraction to Saudi tourists looking for privacy during their family holidays,” he said.
Spelling out his intentions as the island’s ambassador, Sadiq said his first task would be to launch a promotional drive in the Kingdom since Saudi Arabia has remained a virgin market for Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Sadiq, who congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on his accession to the throne at the Al-Yamamah Palace last week, also paid a courtesy call on Deputy Governor Prince Sattam at the Riyadh Governor’s Office yesterday.
Sadiq pointed out that although the island attracts more than half a million visitors a year, tourist arrivals from the Kingdom constitute a tiny share of the market. “We don’t see Saudi tourists in Sri Lanka where they will get added value for their money.”
Citing lack of proper exposure to Sri Lanka in this part of the region, he indicated that there was plenty of scope for Saudi investors to take part in the up-market tourist industry. The island has 14,000 5-star rooms, he said, adding that the country plans to increase the number to 25,000 to reach a target of one million tourist arrivals by 2010. “Sri Lanka declared tourism as a core sector in its recent national development plan, therefore, returns from foreign investment in this industry will be highly rewarding,” he added. “We have a modest two-way trade valued at $150 million tilted in favor of the Kingdom with tea as our major export,” he said, pointing out that there are several other areas that could be harnessed for the benefit of the two countries.
He said the goods manufactured in the island could find duty free access to the large Indian market under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement ( ILFTA). This could make foreign investment in the island highly productive due to cheap labor and availability of adequate raw materials, he added.
Sadiq said he intended to enhance the quality of manpower supplied to the Kingdom by insisting on better orientation and training programs for domestics. He intends to request his government to diversify its manpower supply to professionals, bankers, consultants, IT programmers, paramedics and skilled personnel in keeping with the Saudization programs.
