Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Sri Lanka Tourism - 50% Increase in Middle East Travellers to Sri Lanka

by Elsa BaxterThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  on Tuesday, 06 April 2010


The number of tourists from the Middle East to Sri Lanka doubled in January 2010, compared to the same month the previous year.

Official figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority show the strongest growth was registered in Qatar, which was up 171 percent, followed by the UAE (164 percent), Saudi Arabia (127 percent), and Kuwait (135 percent).

Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori, Middle East director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board, said early indications pointed to “double-digit growth” for the number of visitors from the region holidaying on the south Asian island this year.

“Sri Lanka is ideally positioned as a destination to attract more regional travellers despite the credit crunch as stability has finally dawned on Sri Lanka with the war coming to an end and the destination offers very good value for money,” Al Mansoori said.

The figures were revealed during the Sri Lankan Food Festival, held at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel from April 7-21.

During this time diners at the hotel’s Spice Island restaurant have the chance to win two tickets on Sri Lanka Airlines to Colombo.

Sri Lankan Airlines fly daily to Colombo from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

source - http://www.arabianbusiness.com

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