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| Sunday, 27 February 2005 |
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Direct flights to bring European tourists by Chanuka Mannapperuma Discussions are now under way to resume direct flights between Sri Lanka and Italy to cater to the increasing number of European tourists arriving here. Already, Industries, Investment Promotion and Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike has initiated discussion with SriLankan Airlines authorities on the possibility of operating direct flights between the two countries. Minister Bandaranaike who made an official visit to Italy recently met the leading tour operators in Italy. "Following the discussion, it was agreed that a special group of nearly 200 persons which includes famous artistes, sports persons, journalists to visit Sri Lanka in late March on a familiarisation tour which will be useful for promotion of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination," a Ministry spokesman said. He said 38,187 tourists have visited Sri Lanka since the tsunami disaster. According to the Ministry's statistics upto February 13,791 Europeans have visited Sri Lanka. "This is the highest reported. From North America 5,000 tourists, 9,522 from South Asia, 594 from Russia and 2,634 from Australia had visited Sri Lanka." Besides, Minister Bandaranaike had also discussed with the French Ambassador on increasing the tourist arrival from France. "The French authorities had also issued an announcement that Sri Lanka is a safe place for travel," he said. |
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