22. March 2010


 

NEWS

 

Sri Lanka Tourism Reaches New Heights

 

Sri Lanka tourist arrivals surge 67.7 percent to 57,300 in February 2010 from a year earlier, with steep increases in generating markets in India, UK and Germany. In February 2009, 38,464 visitors came to Sri Lanka amidst a war with Tamil separatists that ended in May 2009.

 

Visitors from Western Europe rose 71.7 percent to 26,850 in February with UK rising 46.3 percent to 10,700, Germany up 122 percent to 5,656, France up 104 percent to 3,440 and the Netherlands up 53 percent to 1,621. South Asian visitors rose 66.6 percent to 11,869 with India growing 94.9 percent to 8,383. Arrivals from Australasia were up 32 percent to 2,067 and East Asia was up 93.7 percent to 6,104. Japanese visitors increased 50.6 percent

to 1,306, visitors from Malaysia rose 420 percent to 1,191. Hence, as expected, 2010 has got off to a flying start with the first two months having 108,057 arrivals compared to 72,637 last year for the same period, a 49 percent increase.

 

In line with this development, in preparation for the next winter season several hotels have already planned refurbishing activities during the forthcoming summer months from May to October 2010. Meanwhile, the world renowned National Geographic Channel in an exclusive report on best places to visit has categorized Sri Lanka as the 2nd best place to visit out of the 20 many well known tourist destinations listed.

 

Source: www.eturbonews.com/.../sri-lanka-tourism-reaches-dizzying-heights-last-months