📈 Sri Lanka Unveils "Southern Mist" & Maritime Tourism Corridors

The Presidential Task Force for the Tourism Development Programme, chaired by Minister Vijitha Herath, has reviewed major investment-focused initiatives to boost sustainability and connectivity. • Key Regional Developments: Plans are underway for the “Southern Mist Corridor” spanning Galle, Matara, and Ratnapura. This dedicated zone aims to curb unauthorized developments, protect ecologically sensitive areas (like Sinharaja), and promote tea tourism and eco-tourism. • Maritime & Transport Linkages: A 10-year Maritime Tourism Corridor project by Capital Marine and Civil Construction will launch in three phases, starting with ferry services from Jaffna before expanding to Colombo and Galle. • Niche Tourism & Simplification: To drive growth, a single-window approval mechanism is being developed for film tourism alongside easier equipment import rules. Adventure tourism will see skydiving introduced at Koggala Airport via a joint military and aviation effort. • Regulatory & Night Economy: New guidelines and online registration are coming for whale/dolphin watching, alongside a "Marine Night" weekend program to boost Colombo's night-time economy. • Security & Visas: The task force emphasized streamlined visa facilitation and enhanced tourist security to attract higher-spending global travelers.