When talking about the main sources of income in our country, several things might come to your mind. Among them, you might mention the garment industry, foreign employment, agriculture, or export of plantation crops, among many others. However, one of the most significant income sources for Sri Lanka is the tourism industry. For many years, this sector has been given considerable attention and promoted extensively. We are often pleased to hear reports about the increasing arrival of tourists.
Many people consider the rise in tourist numbers to be an achievement of the government in power. And it’s true — the more tourists we attract, the stronger our economy becomes. You may remember a time when we couldn’t even afford to buy lentils due to a lack of dollar reserves. There was a time we struggled to pay for oil tankers. The issue was the shortage of dollars. While we can print rupees at will, we can’t do the same with dollars. Someone has to bring them into the country.
There are three main ways for us to earn dollars:
- Exporting goods and earning in dollars,
- Receiving remittances from overseas workers,
- Bringing in tourists who spend their dollars here.
So, it doesn’t matter who brings in the dollars — as long as they come into the country, it’s a great benefit.
But we have to ask ourselves: Why would they come to Sri Lanka?
Primarily, tourists visit to see Sri Lanka — our natural beauty or our ancient heritage. But we often only showcase a few popular spots repeatedly. That approach won’t work forever. The world is now full of new and creative tourism experiences.
Like anything else, tourism has both advantages and disadvantages. Over time, traditional tourism will decline. People won’t keep coming just to see Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya, or to walk on the beach. Foreigners won’t keep coming just to watch the waves. Our beach parks don’t even offer proper food for tourists.
No matter how much we try to develop tourism, what we often end up doing is simply raising ticket prices. This isn’t a criticism of the current government — it’s a flaw in our tourism thinking. However, we believe that people like Miracle Dome and Pastor Jerome have made positive contributions to our tourism industry.
Using religious concepts for tourism promotion is an additional advantage for the country. We’re speaking about how this extra advantage brings value to Sri Lanka.
What we sometimes see as a dark cloud may in fact have silver, golden, and even gemstone linings — sapphires, rubies, and diamonds. We often see only the surface, but beneath lies something more valuable.
At a typical Miracle Dome event, over a hundred new foreign visitors participate. Many come specifically for this purpose. If eight such events are held per month, that’s nearly a thousand visitors per month, and around 12,000 per year.
These visitors don’t come just for a quick event and leave. They often stay for about a month, spending dollars within the country and traveling around Sri Lanka. Many come from distant countries in South America and Africa, and some of them hadn’t even heard of Sri Lanka before.
Currently, many leading religious TV networks around the world are talking about Pastor Jerome. Through God TV, he is the only Asian engaged in ministry with a global audience. His services are also aired on Yes TV in Canada. He has also received international opportunities to appear on networks like Zee Tamil and Sony Max.
Events at Miracle Dome are broadcast live and streamed through social media, accessible to the entire world. In this way, the Dome has become a strong pull for international tourists, especially those interested in spiritual experiences or healing services — not just traditional sightseeing.
This trend opens a new path for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
At present, the Miracle Dome has become a central hub for spiritual and healing tourism, with direct or indirect connections to over one million people globally, spanning more than 100 countries. Pastor Jerome has also established 28 churches around the world. This has created an international Christian tradition centered on Sri Lanka, drawing global attention toward us.
Recently, over 100 foreign visitors, including a royal opera singer from Japan, visited the Miracle Dome. Special sessions are regularly organized for international guests. Pastor Jerome is also gaining significant recognition in India, particularly after his prophetic warning about an aviation accident. Top media outlets in India are beginning to speak about him.
He has also received an official diplomatic travel permit from the Brussels Convention, making him the only Sri Lankan ambassador appointed under both the United Nations and the European Union.
With all this, Pastor Jerome is becoming an internationally recognized Sri Lankan figure.
In addition, every week, tourists from various countries visiting for religious or healing purposes are provided with maximum facilities. The Miracle Dome, built very close to the international airport, has made access easier. If we further develop the necessary support services and infrastructure around the Dome, it will become a vibrant hub in our tourism industry.
No matter where you are in the world, you or someone you know can come and experience this. If anyone wants more information:
Call: +94 117 774 877
WhatsApp: +94 773 477 477
Jeevana Pahan Thilina
