Sri Lanka Tourism to get a boost from Hikkaduwa promotion

In a bid to promote the island’s southern coast as a tourist destination, the Sri Lankan Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) together with the local community of Hikkaduwa has organized a festival to take the country to a global platform.

The ‘Hikkaduwa Beach Fest’ which is to set to take place from July 30 to August 3, on the beach strip of Hikkaduwa is the first of its kind to happen on local soil. The festival promises to entertain the crowd with performances by local and international artists and be the first of many festivals to take place in the country. This new venture also aims to improve the current state of the tourism industry.

Speaking at a press briefing on the ‘Hikkaduwa Beach Fest’ the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority; Renton De Alwis, noted that Hikkaduwa needs to be reinvented as a tourist destination as it has suffered many blows in the past.

“As Hikkaduwa has had difficult times in the past we need to reinvent its image by organizing events such as this and recreating its atmosphere. I have even made a proposal to construct a convention centre so that we can attract the Indian business market to improve the current situation,” he said.

Adding to this note, the Deputy Tourism Minister, Faiszer Musthapha said that even though the country is facing a war at the moment it needs to show that it still has a peaceful environment within its borders.

“By organizing events such as the Hikkaduwa Beach Fest we are able to increase our revenue as it attracts the local and the international markets and with the launch of the event we hope it will generate an increase of 5-6% of the income of the hoteliers in the region as we hope to sell 12,000 rooms for the event,” he said.

He also emphasized that the Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry is playing the role of a facilitator between the SLTPB and the respective Provincial Council and Municipal Council to coordinate this event.

Also addressing the media the Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, George Michael stated that we need to create positive events in order to send positive messages to the international arena.

Sri Lankan Air Lines which is also one of the sponsors of the event is offering special packages for tourists from India and Maldives to attract the tourists in these regions.

The Beach Festival which will take place for four days has its own unique theme for each day of the festival creating diversity and an environment for everyone in the family. The Grand Hikkaduwa day will be dedicated for grandparents while the rest of the days are named as ‘Girlisicous Thursday’, ‘Rapture on the sand’, ‘A2 meltdown’ and ‘Sun down Sunday’.

A beach parade, surfing show, kite festival, food festival and beach drum festival are some of the many events that are scheduled take place at the beach festival.