SLAITO welcomes Budget, insists on marketing

SLAITO President Nalin Jayasundera welcomes plans to develop domestic airports and resume BIA expansion Welcomes VAT threshold reduction to Rs. 36 m, as move could discourage companies to split operations to avoid taxes Warns infrastructure development alone won't sustain year-round tourism; stresses need for consistent global marketing

- BY CHARUMINI DE SILVA

SRI Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Nalin Jayasundera yesterday welcomed the Budget 2026 proposals to upgrade domestic and international airport infrastructure and improve road connectivity, but cautioned that without a robust, consistent marketing strategy, the country will struggle to attract year-round visitors.

"Overall, the Budget 2026 is good," he told the Daily FT.

Jayasundera said the tourism industry appreciates the Government's plans to develop the domestic airports in Hingurakgoda, Sigiriya, and Trincomalee, expand operations at the Jaffna International Airport, and resume expansion of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

He also welcomed the continued investment in expressway and key road projects, including the Central Expressway, Kurunegala-Dambulla Expressway, and Ruwanpura Expressway, noting that improved road connectivity will significantly enhance accessibility to key tourist destinations.