Hilton to manage six hotels, resorts in Sri Lanka

This also marks the debut of the DoubleTree by Hilton brand in Sri Lanka and significantly expands Hilton’s presence in some of the most sought-after destinations in the country, the company says. 
“Our hotels are strategically located in the heart of key tourist destinations of Kandy, Yala, Kosgoda, Nuwara-Eliya, Colombo and Negombo, allowing them to reap the full benefits of the burgeoning growth in tourism in Sri Lanka,” said Guy Phillips, Hilton senior vice president for development in Asia and Australasia. 
“We are pleased to be working with a partner of the experience and standing of Melwa Hotels & Resorts to advance our footprint within this dynamic country.”
Given Sri Lanka’s rich natural and cultural heritage, tourism is a chief propellant of economic growth. It was ranked by Forbes magazine among the “Top 10 Coolest Countries” in the world to visit in 2015. 
Last year, foreign-tourist arrivals surpassed all previous records to exceed 2 million – a 14-per-cent increase from 2015. 
The government has also launched a series of initiatives to grow tourism, embarking on key infrastructure developments such as expanding the national road network.