Cricket World Cup to hit 100,000 arrivals per month

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Sri Lanka is expected to hit the 100,000 arrival mark per month during the Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Director Sri Lanka, Tourism, Malraj Kiriella said that there were over 80,000 tourist arrivals in December and a further 72,000 in January.

“We expect this number to hit the six digit mark in March with the World Cup fever picking up,” he said.

Kiriella said that they have also lined up several programs with visiting sports journalists in a bid to give wider coverage to the destination Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, star class hotels in Hambantota and even small-time hotels have been fully booked between February 19 and 24 for the

Sri Lanka Vs. Canada and Pakistan Vs. Kenya world cup matches at the newly built Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, in Suriyawewa, Hambantota.

“We are fully booked,” said Director, Peacock Beach Hotels Nalin Fernando. The hotel was recently upgraded to a four star hotel to accommodate Canadian and Kenyan teams and also foreign media personnel.

Hotels in nearby towns, Kataragama and Tangalle are already having over 80 percent bookings besides hotels in Kandy and Colombo which have also recorded a 80 percent bookings on account of the World Cup.