Tourism Ministry targets 35 percent growth  by year end [September 9 2010]

With the tremendous growth in the tourism sector after ending the three –decades long war against terrorism, the Ministry of Tourism targets a 35 percent growth in the sector before the end of 2010.

The tourism sector has achieved a 28 percent growth during the past few months.

Over 229,952 tourists had arrived Sri Lanka during the first seven months of the year.

”The influx began in June after the LTTE was defeated in May. The end of the three decades old war has brought many tourists from all parts of the globe to the country,” Minister of Tourism Promotion Faizer Musthapha said.

He said that government’s target was a half a million tourist arrivals and US$ 400 million in earnings in 2010.

The government has identified the UK, India, Middle East, China, France, Germany, Eastern Europe and SARRC countries as key markets to promote tourism.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given a target of increase tourists arrivals to 2.5 million tourists by 2016.