Middle East promotions boost tourist arrivals

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

Though there was a decline during the past decade in travel and tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, there was a 9.7 percent increase in tourists arrivals from Gulf countries up to June this year.

Deputy Minister Travel and Tourism Faizer Muzthapha yesterday told the Sunday Observer, that it was mainly due to promotions such as the Arabian Travel Mart, Road Show, Sri Lanka Evening at Dubai and Bahrain International Travel Expo, that tourists arrivals from Middle East countries have increased. The Deputy Minister said, that they were planning to set up a Dubai based travel office with an officer to promote Sri Lankan tourism.

"Earlier the Middle-East based market was ignored due to various reasons. But once we went there, we saw the potential of the market and decided to promote it", he said. "We should look at the spending power of tourist and the up market. In Dubai young travellers spend their holidays in Sri-Lanka" he said.