With end of war:

Tourist arrivals to hit all-time record

Earnings will surpass $ 1 billion mark:

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka will hit an all-time record high in two years due to permanent peace in the country, said Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Bernard Goonetilleke. He said that with the war ending, tourism would be one of the first industries to recover completely. The current tourist arrival figures were very low mainly due to the conflict which followed adverse travel advisories against Sri Lanka. “There was a 20 percent drop in the first quarter of this year. However, we expect the number of arrivals to pick up especially from the European sectors from next year,” he said.

Former Sri Lankan Envoy in the United States Goonetilleke said that it would take time for travel advisories to be lifted.

“However, when it is reviewed it would be in favour of Sri Lanka. This would benefit the industry,” he said. The global recession and H1N1 virus has also restricted global travel and this too has a negative impact on Sri Lanka.

The Chairman said that apart from tourists Sri Lankan expatriates too would return to Sri Lanka in large numbers from this winter. “This is a new market which was born out of peace,” he said. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has also launched special promotions in Europe and this would attract more tourists by the end of the year. Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism, Dilip Mudadeniya, said that with the war ending, tourism would move from the current fourth foreign exchange earner position to the top spot soon.

The current earnings are around US $ 450 million and I am sure it will pass the US one billion mark when the number of tourist arrivals double.

The current number of tourist arrivals to the country is around 500, 000.

“Though the war ended last month it would not have a positive impact for arrivals this year as travel plans have been already made for this year.

However, the end of the war would definitely help the industry from next year and we anticipate an annual tourist arrival increase of 20 percent per year from next year. “He said that the global melt down too would ease and this would help the industry.

On the instructions of Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda they would launch special promotions in China and India.

“We hope to stage Sri Lankan operas in both these countries,” he said.