CLAUDE GUNASEKERA
COLOMBO ;Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen evidence-based governance, emphasizing that accurate and reliable data remains the cornerstone of effective policy-making for tourism.
Echoing sentiments recently expressed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Vijitha Herath in Parliament, High Commissioner Duckworth underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and data integrity in shaping the future of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. He stated that Australia stands ready to support Sri Lanka through a data-driven initiative aimed at delivering more accurate insights into tourism performance and visitor spending patterns.
“Accurate data is the bedrock of effective policy-making,” Duckworth noted, stressing that informed decision-making is essential to unlocking the full potential of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. He added that enhanced data collection and analysis would help ensure that the contributions of every visitor are properly recognized and valued, paving the way for a more informed and sustainable approach to tourism development.
The initiative reflects a renewed commitment to strengthening transparency and accountability across the sector. By improving the quality and reliability of tourism-related data, policymakers will be better equipped to formulate strategies that drive growth, attract investment, and enhance visitor experiences.
Duckworth’s remarks come in response to a recent statement made by Minister Herath in Parliament, where the minister highlighted longstanding concerns regarding the measurement of tourist expenditure. He observed that data relating to tourist spending had, in the past, been marked by ambiguity and misrepresentation, creating challenges for policymakers seeking to accurately assess the sector’s economic contribution.
The minister’s observations underscored the urgent need for dependable and verifiable data to guide future tourism policies and development plans. Accurate expenditure figures, he noted, are critical to understanding the true value generated by international visitors and to ensuring that policy interventions are aligned with on-the-ground realities.
Highlighting the broader economic significance of the initiative, Duckworth emphasized that a robust data framework would help ensure that every dollar spent by tourists is properly accounted for. Such insights, he said, would enable the government and industry stakeholders to make strategic decisions on tourism offerings, infrastructure development, marketing campaigns, and investment priorities.
The Australian-supported initiative is expected to contribute to a more transparent and data-centric tourism ecosystem, strengthening Sri Lanka’s ability to maximize the economic benefits of tourism while fostering greater confidence among investors and stakeholders.
As Sri Lanka continues its efforts to revitalize and expand its tourism industry, the partnership with Australia signals a shared commitment to harnessing the power of data to drive sustainable growth, informed policy-making, and long-term economic resilience.
