Airports should be seen as key economic centres
We can build ports and airports because hundreds of ships or airlines may pass through or fly over Sri Lanka. However that does not mean the ships or airlines will call over or land in Sri Lanka. The keyword here is creating markets.
The aviation industry and the tourism industry of today and tomorrow are much different than of yesterday. Tourism and the aviation industry complement each other – a symbiotic relationship. Sri Lanka needs to develop domestic and international airports into business hubs. Airports are economic centres.
Low cost carriers (LCC) will dominate the skies in the near future
billion passenger trips over the next two decades. This brings with it significant challenges with several airports already reaching full capacity. India is developing and expanding its terminals for low cost airline operations, which is the future. Plans of some airports include public transport interchange that could possibly incorporate a rail or other mass transit stations to connect
Sri Lanka needs to develop domestic and regional airports into business hubs. Our country has 14 domestic airports. It is time we develop some of these airports as an international airport for low cost carriers (LCC) operations. It is said, low cost carriers may dominate the skies in the future. All these developments will strengthen its competitiveness in attracting tourism, business and leisure traveller.
Hambantota, MRIA Airport is complemented by the nearby sea- port. With the expressway and railway linking from Matara to Hambantota, all these developments will lead Hambantota to become a business hub.
Easy access for transshipment for sea/ air cargo, warehousing, storage, distribution, manufacturing, assembling, packaging, dedicated logistic centre, offers cost effective and faster logistics. A number of countries across the globe are considering building free zones to facilitate investors and business people to establish their business. This location (Hambantota) is ideal for an airport and sea port free zone with access to key markets of South Asia.
Today’s business success invariably calls for faster operational abilities and an environment that is conducive to growth. Position Sri Lanka as a regional logistics, services and distribution hub. This would minimise trade barriers and enable investors to import and export under good economic conditions.
For sustainable development and growth all these should go hand in hand - the ports, airports, industrial or free zones. This will also create mini airport cities which are called ‘Aerotropolis’, the frontier of the next phase of globalisation. (The writer is a logistics specialist and can be reached at shennal.acr@gmail.com)