ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers approved a proposal to sign a bilateral aviation agreement with the Netherlands to start direct flights to Sri Lanka in hopes of boosting tourism and investment, a spokesman said.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena said on Wednesday October 26 that even though the two countries started diplomatic relations in 1951, no aviation bilateral agreement has been signed between them.
The proposed agreement is expected to boost tourism, education, trade, investment, agriculture and cultural sectors in the country, said Gunawardena.
“With this agreement, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands will be able to start direct flights, and a smoother exchange of travellers and cargo can be expected,” he said.
Due to the severe forex shortage in the country, the government is exploring possible ways of bringing in more forex and the authorities expect to generate around 800 million US dollars through tourism in 2022.
Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando said his ministry has already begun promotions in the Asian region and said the country can expect a boost in tourist arrivals in the last quarter of December. (Colombo/Oct26/2022)