By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka, which is expecting more than a million foreign visitors by the end of 2012, has set up a think tank for the development of tourism in the country, an official said Wednesday.
The Centre for Research and Sustainability Studies in Tourism (CRST) will gather information, analyze and disseminate data for better decision-making in the tourism industry, Dileep Mudadeniya, co-founder of the centre, told Xinhua.
“The CRST will act as an independent body with a sound research database, providing actionable data, analysis and studies supporting the development of tourism in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana earlier said that the government had signed a $450 million project with India’s Krrish Group that would include a seven-star hotel in Colombo.
Several international brands including Shangri-la, Sheraton, Hyatt and Sun City have already signed agreements to invest around $2 billion in hotel projects in the country.
During the first eight months of 2012, tourist arrivals rose 15.8 percent to 622,661 year-on-year.