Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that the number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka will exceed the target this year.
"As of the end of September, more than 598,006 tourists had visited the country. This is an increase of 34.3% in comparison to last year. We had set a target of 750,000 by the end of the year. We are hoping that we will exceed this figure by the end of the 3 year with the current figures", he said.
Addressing media to raise awareness on the upcoming Visit Kandy 2011 tourism promotional and trade exhibition to be held in Kandy, he said the governemnt aims to uplift the tourism industry in the central province and promote indigenous products of the central province such as brass-ware, crafts and food among foreigners.