Withdrawal of travel advisories, a boon to tourism

by Anura Maitipe

The travel advisories imposed by England, France, Germany and the Netherlands on Sri Lanka has been withdrawn. This step was taken by these countries following the submission of the latest report on the security situation in Sri Lanka by European travel advisories, A spokesman in the Ministry of Tourism told the Sunday Observer.

These countries have withdrawn Sri Lanka from the list of travel risk countries. As a result tourist arrivals from Germany, England, France and the Netherlands have increased by 12 percent in the past two months. Tourist arrivals from Belgium have increased by 42 percent in the same period, he said.

In 2007 the highest number of tourist arrivals were recorded from India which increased from 128,370 in 2006 to 215,562 in 2007. The direct flight service between the two countries has contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals from India. During the same period tourist arrivals from China have almost doubled. Since Chinese tourists spend more money the foreign exchange has increased, he said.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board has taken steps to promote regional tourism with the implementation of two major development projects with facilities for a golf course, diving and wind surfing stations at Kalpitiya, Nilaweli and Trincomalee, he said.