Sri Lanka is regaining its pride as the best tourism location, new trade figures have revealed.
The goal of attracting 2.5 million tourists by 2016 is not an impossible task in view of growing activities in the sector, say industry leaders.
They say the three-decade-old war had hampered the country’s development, crippling almost every industry.
But the tourism industry is now seeing a healthy growth with the end of the war this year, according to latest statistics.
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka saw a 20.1 percent year-on-year growth last month. The number of arrivals grew to 44,311 from 36,901 in November, 2008.
Total arrivals grew by 0.4 percent from January to November year-on-year, from 389,550 to 391,028 arrivals.
In 2008, the month of December recorded the highest number of arrivals and the figures are expected to show a higher growth this year because of seasonal offers and post-war stability.
Sri Lanka is also developing a Port City with the aim of attracting more cruisers to Sri Lanka and the tourism industry will grow further with high numbers of arrivals through passenger ships, say industry sources.
The goal of attracting 2.5 million tourists by 2016 is not an impossible task, with such development work in progress, says a top businessman.
Marine-life lovers are also flocking to Sri Lanka, say tourism experts.
They say that whale-watching and dolphin-watching programmes are also attracting tourists.
The marine life-lovers are mostly from France and the numbers of arrivals from that country has grown by 50 percent, Minister Felix Perera told a recent conference.
source - www.island.lk
GOOD TIME AHEAD FOR HOTEL SECTOR COMPANIES
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