In the midst of an economic crisis, Sri Lanka is using the Asia Cup 2023 to boost their economy. Having earlier issued instructions to buy Asia Cup tickets in dollars, the SL Government have launched new initiatives for tourism. The SL President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the government will be unveiling a new tourist plan called ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ alongside the tournament.
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As per Lanka Express, the SL government plan to launch the tourism plan. The government aims to attract 5 million tourists to boost the economy. Of the 5 million tourists, more than 2.5m are expected to be high-end visitors. As per estimates, the country can house up to 10 million tourists. While there is no date confirmed for the launch of the initiative, it is likely to be around the Asia Cup.
The Asia Cup 2023 kicks off on August 30, with Sri Lanka set to host 9 games. Colombo will host 5 games, while Kandy will get 4 games. Fans who will travel to Sri Lanka to watch the games will have to buy tickets in dollars. The move is aimed at boosting the economy’s forex, thus helping ease the economic situation in the country.
The current economic crisis in Sri Lanka is the worst since the country got independence in 1948. So much so, the SL government announced last year that the economy had collapsed, leaving it unable to pay for essentials. The country’s tourism sector contributes to one-tenth of the GDP and the Asia Cup is likely to boost it further.
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