Boost for tourism

International media and tourism experts say that there will be a boom in Sri Lanka's tourism industry due to the prevailing peace and the World Cricket Cup matches.

A marketing organisation in England has received a global award for selecting Sri Lanka as its best tourism promotion venue.

The Independent, one of England's leading newspapers said that Sri Lanka's tourism industry will take a great leap forward.

In its issue on February 15, the newspaper said that Sri Lanka would be the best tourist destination in the world and added that with the World Cup Match Series 2011, the prevailing peace, natural beauty, eco-tourism, old civilisation and archaeological remains, the country will be the cynosure for foreign tourists.

The number of tourist arrivals hit 700,000 last year and according to the sources the country would reach its golden era in tourism in the near future.