World Cup - tremendous tourism gain
 The tourism industry of Sri Lanka will gain tremendously with the ICC
cricket World Cup 2011 industrialists said. Sri Lanka is co host to this
biggest sporting event. The exposure given by the international media,
the large numbers of cricket enthusiasts visiting Sri Lanka during the
matches as well as the stadiums that matches are to be played have
created a massive advantage to the industry, they said.
The tournament is being co hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
from February 19-April 2. In Sri Lanka the matches will be played at
three venues which include R. Premadasa Stadium Colombo, Mahinda
Rajapaksa International Cricket stadium Sooriyawewa, Hambantota and
Muttiah Muralitharan cricket stadium Pallekele, Kandy.
Around 300,000-350,000 tickets were printed for the 12 matches to be
played in Sri Lanka and all tickets have been aheady sold except for the
Rs 50 tickets, said Host Tournament Director World Cup 2011 Suraj
Dandeniya.
A large number of print media journalists and 60-70 TV crews will
come to Sri Lanka during this period. For players and match officials
alone 3000 room nights have been booked and they will stay at Cinnamon
Grand, Taj Samudra, Hilton Hotel, Peacock Hotel Hambantota, Earls
Regency and Amaya resorts in Kandy. All costs of officials and players
will be borne by the ICC.Over 15,000-20,000 tourists will witness the
matches spread over the next one and a half months. The Tourist Board
has arranged site seeing tours and dinners to coincide with the ICC
world Cricket Cup.
According to CMC sources the Green Path Night Fiesta will be held on
the days the matches are being played at the R. Premadasa Stadium. This
will enable cricket fans who could not go to the venue to watch the
match and also enjoy themselves.
There will be food outlets, entertainment programs as well as a giant
screen to watch the match.
The first match will start today (20) at Mahinda Rajapaksa
International Stadium Suriyawewa, Hambantota with a match between Sri
Lanka and Canada.
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