Former Sri Lankan tourism chief says country’s boom won’t affect Maldives

A tourism boom in Sri Lanka following the end of the country’s long-running civil war will not impact tourism in the Maldives, the former President of Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Srilal Miththapala, was reported as saying in the Lankanewspapers website.

“It is a misconception to think that Sri Lanka and Maldives will be competing in the tourism industry as both countries offer different products. The Maldives islands and beaches are unique and it draws tourists who like that kind of an environment and in Sri Lanka we cater to a different genre of tourists, the site reported him as saying.

“With several major hotel and resort chains such as Indigo, Movenpick and Shangri-La taking steps to invest in Sri Lanka, questions have been raised as to whether the current boom in tourism would draw fierce competition between Sri Lanka and its friendly neighbour, Maldives which maintains a thriving tourism industry,” the site reported.

“Despite many being under the impression that the current trend in Sri Lanka might threaten the Maldivian tourism sector, several hoteliers in Sri Lanka are of the view that the developments in Sri Lanka would not have much of an impact in Maldives as both countries deal with two different areas of tourism.

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