Sri Lanka Tourist arrivals in October up by 39.4pct. First Ten Months of 2010 Show 43.5pct Increase

18th November 2010, www.island.lk, By Mario Andree

Tourist arrivals for the first ten months this year increased by 43.5 percent to 497, 598 from 346,717 a year ago while arrivals in October increased 39.4 percent to 52,370 from 37, 575 in October 2009, Sri Lank Tourism Development Authority data showed. The highest number of arrivals was from Western Europe.

For the first ten months this year, tourist arrivals from North America increased by 66.5 percent to 31, 573 from 18, 967 while Latin American visitors declined by 16.3 percent to 456 from 545 a year ago.

Western European tourists increased by 49.3 percent to 201, 412 from 134, 949 while Eastern European tourist arrivals increased by 30.4 percent to 26,073 from 19,987.

South African arrivals picked up by 32.1 percent to 1,562 from 1,182 while tourists from the Middle East recorded a growth of 58 percent to 29,153 from 18,454.

East Asian tourists increased by 38.1 percent to 52,068 from 37,704 for the period, while South Asian tourists increased by 33.9 percent to 130,516 from 97,495.

Tourist arrivals from Australasia recorded an increase of 42.2 percent to 24,786 during the ten months, from 17,434 a year ago.

Recently a tourism official said the target for 2016 was achievable with the forthcoming infrastructure developments. He said the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has identified several locations for new resorts which will enable the country to cater the 2.5 million tourists expected by 2016.

Recently the SLTDA identified 500 acres of land in Trincomalee for tourism development purposes. Two islands in Kalpitiya have been leased for new hotel projects which will abrasively help the sector’s boom.

The SLTDA is working closely with the Urban Development Authority to support the needed infrastructure by taking measures to protect the valued assets in the country.

Several companies also have launched many projects to develop the tourism industry with many companies venturing into tourism infrastructure projects hoping for a higher gain with the increase in tourist arrivals.

Related Info:
Sri Lanka Tourism Statistics and Tourist Arrivals