Sri Lanka expects $1.5 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) through its first tourist city project, that includes four five-star hotels comprising 2,300 rooms, the government said on Thursday.
The planned hotel city at an 80 hectare site in Katana, a coastal town 15 km from commercial capital Colombo, is the latest destination where the island nation aims to build infrastructure to accelerate its post-war tourism boom.
"The envisaged foreign direct investment for phase one is $1.5 billion," Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters. "The project will comprise of four five-star hotels with a total number of 2,300 rooms, exhibition and convention centre, (and) two shopping malls."
On Wednesday a senior minister told parliament Sri Lanka is in discussion with seven hotel chains including Claridges, Six Senses and Four Seasons to build large five-star hotels.
In January Sri Lanka signed agreements with Hong Kong-based Shangri La Asia for a $500 million complex with high-end retail facilities, deluxe apartments and a 500-room luxury hotel in Colombo and a 300-room city resort on approximately 100 acres in Hambantota on the southern coast.
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