Tourist arrivals up [September 16 2008]

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in March registered an 8.6 per cent growth over the same period last year, the Destination Sri Lanka reported. For the first three months of 2008, there was a marginal increase of 0.7 per cent in tourist arrivals according to the monthly statistical report released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

The highest performer during the period was the Middle East, which registered an increase of 80.6 per cent in comparison with 2007. Of the 294.6 per cent growth from the region in March, Iranian tourists formed the major portion with arrivals of 1,300 during the month. These arrivals were the result of the operation of nine charter flights supported by Sri Lanka Tourism.