When you think of Sri Lanka, you think of beautiful beaches, with crystal-clear waters and stunning monuments.
But there are now plans to turn it into the Las Vegas of south Asia.
Last month, president Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the opening of the new $1bn (£735m) City of Dreams casino resort in the country’s largest city, Colombo, was the start of a new era for Sri Lanka.
The new gambling destination boasts 800 hotel rooms, 20 different restaurants and bars, and a luxury mall, adding to the smaller casinos dotted around the country already.
The City of Dreams’ grand opening party, saw Hrithik Roshan, one of the highest-paid Bollywood actors performing for guests – not unlike if Hugh Jackman was rolled out to do a show in Vegas.
The opening of this huge tourist attraction hasn’t gone down well with a lot of the locals, according to the Telegraph, but tour operators don’t think there’s anything to worry about.
‘While casino expansion isn’t aligned with our preferences, it doesn’t concern us at the moment, given the vast majority of the island remains beautifully pristine, authentic, and incredibly welcoming to visitors,’ said Cherylle Sargent, from south Asia specialists Red Dot Tours.
‘Casinos generally operate in confined spaces with little impact on the life outside,’ added Harji Singh, who plans high-end tours to India and Sri Lanka. ‘We don’t expect it to have an adverse impact on our clients.
Last month, president Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the opening of the new $1bn (£735m) City of Dreams casino resort in Sri Lanka’s largest city, Colombo, was the start of a new era
‘On the other hand, it will bring in more visitors to the country, who may also travel around and see a bit of this beautiful island.’
Sri Lanka’s bold move comes just as Las Vegas is experiencing a decline in tourists flocking to its colourful streets.
Some are blaming the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade policies, with travel costs now reportedly rising for tourists visiting the country.
Steve Hill, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president, told KTNV Las Vegas: ‘Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism.
‘Our international visitation is flat but is making up for a 20+% drop in tourism from Canada, which is our largest international source of visitation.’
Now, fewer tourists are filling the usually bustling casinos, restaurants and bars of Sin City.
He told Fox News: ‘I think in six months, I would believe that Vegas tourism and our economy overall will be in a much better place.’
Robby Starbuck, host of The Robby Starbuck Show, put part of the change down to a shift in generational habits, explaining younger people bet online more, rather than go into casinos.
Sri Lanka’s bold move comes just as Las Vegas is experiencing a decline in tourists flocking to its colourful streets
He said: ‘Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction – while younger generations feel just as content with para-social online experiences.
‘The Vegas marketing image is one centred on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in.’
Local business are feeling the decline, too, and steakhouse hostess Gloria Valdez, 38, who has worked in Las Vegas for 15 years, shared her concerns.
She told Time: ‘The pandemic was something that was worldwide, and we had the hope that everything would get better. We’re not sure if and when this is gonna stop.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .