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Monday, June 13, 2011

Tourist arrivals up 40.2%

Tourist arrivals for the first five months of this year increased by 40.2 percent to 327,902 from 233,922 while in month of May there was a growth of 39 percent to 48,943 from 35,213 a year ago recent data showed. Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) focuses to increase the number of arrivals to 2.5 million by 2015 and 20 million by 2020 increasing the income generated through the sector ten fold within the next ten years.

For the first five months of this year arrivals from North America increased 23.7 percent to 17,711 from 14,319 while Latin American tourists increased 75.9 percent to 459 from 261 a year ago.

Tourists from Western Europe increased 37.1 percent to 129,367 from 94,369 while arrivals from Eastern Europe increased 25.2 percent to 19,919 from 15,913.

African arrivals increased 68.7 percent to 1,137 from 674 while tourists from Middle East increased 43.2 to 15,958 from 11,146.

Tourist arrivals from East Asia increased 42 percent to 34,504 from 24,294 while arrivals from South Asia increased 50.9 percent to 93,139 from 61,726.

Tourists from other countries increased 40 percent to 327,902 from 233,922.

Tourist Hotel Association Chairmen Anura Lokuhetti emphasized the need to promote inbound tourism in the region for Sri Lanka to achieve its ambitious goal.

He pointed out that at the current phase of development Sri Lanka would not be able to increase the number of rooms required by 2015 to cater to the 2.5 million tourists expected and requested the government to fast track its approval process.

Further he said the government determined land prices within the prospective tourism destinations were too high in price for investors which is holding back many and requested the government to reevaluate or consider easy payment schemes.

SLTDA, Director International relations Malraj Kiriella said the government has embarked on an ambitious goal to achieve 2.5 million tourists by 2015 and 5 million by 2020 increasing the income generated ten fold.

However a senior hotelier quoting former President J.R. Jayewardene said the country would not be able to support more than three million tourists and it should be the cut-off line as the industrialists are already facing difficulties and are clueless how to support the surging demand. -MA

source - www.island.lk