Hilton has made a significant move into Sri Lanka, with the signing of management agreements for six hotels and resorts across the country.

The deals, which were penned with Melwa Hotels & Resorts, will see Hilton operate new-build properties in Colombo, Kandy, Negombo, Nuwara Eliya, Kosgoda and near Yala National Park, under its upscale Hilton and DoubleTree brands.

“Our hotels are strategically located in the heart of key tourist destinations… allowing them to reap the full benefits of the burgeoning growth in tourism in Sri Lanka,” noted Guy Phillips, Hilton’s senior vice president of development for Asia & Australasia.

Scheduled to open between 2020 and 2021, the new properties will be the Hilton Kandy Resort, Hilton Yala Resort & Spa, Hilton Kosgoda Resort, DoubleTree by Hilton Nuwara-Eliya, DoubleTree by Hilton Colombo International Airport and DoubleTree by Hilton Negombo. These hotels will join the existing Hilton Colombo.

“We are delighted to add to our existing portfolio in Sri Lanka with our world-class Hilton Hotels & Resorts and DoubleTree by Hilton brands in highly attractive destinations within the country,” said Sean Wooden, the company’s vice president of brand management for Asia Pacific.

“With few international hotel brands having a widespread presence throughout the country, Hilton will enjoy the first mover advantage in riding on Sri Lanka’s growth trajectory.”

Tourism in Sri Lanka is booming, with the country having welcomed a record total of more than two million international visitors in 2016 – a 14% increase from 2015. The government has also launched a series of initiatives to grow its tourism sector, including key infrastructure developments such as expanding the national road network and expanding Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport.