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| Saturday, 6 December 2003 |
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October arrivals the highest in 33 years by Tharika Goonathilake Tourist arrivals for the month of October has seen a 37.7 percent increase with 49,922 arrivals up from 36,258 in the corresponding period last year. This is the highest in 33 years recorded for a given month. Cumulative arrival figures for the first eight months of the year also recorded a 23.7 percent increase with 387,974 tourists as against 313,593 arrivals in 2002. Figures for the months of June to October also hit a comparatively all time high since 1967, when documentation of the inbound traffic was initially commenced. Sri Lanka Tourist Board Research and International Affairs Director Malraj B. Kirielle said that if the present trend continues Sri Lanka can expect a record year and surpass its highest ever tourist arrivals tally of 436,440 in 1999 by the end of the year. Tourist Board statistics reveal that increased arrivals have been recorded from all major markets with India continuing to bring in the largest number of tourist to the country for the January to October period. Indian arrivals for the first eight months was 72,858 a 26.5 percent increase from 57,579 in 2002. Arrivals for the month of October alone from neighbouring India was 9771 as against 6873 in 2002. This is a 42.2 percent increase over the corresponding month. Regional wise traditional markets of Western Europe continued its positive growth with 195,188 a 23.2 percent increase from 158,427 arrivals in 2002. South Asia was second with the region generating 94,062 tourists for the first eight months, in comparison to 73,980 in 2002. The month of October also recorded a 35.7 percent increase in arrivals with 12,048 tourists up from 8,877 in 2002. Industry experts said that the general stability given the Government's sustained peace initiative and the destination's appeal as multiple reasons to travel for can be attributed for the steady increase in tourist traffic and the destination's comparative resilience. The extensive promotional campaigns in overseas markets by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board in collaboration with the industry and national carrier SriLankan Airlines and the commencement of direct flights to new markets as well as primary traditional long-haul countries are beginning to yield results, they observe. The expected 'bumper season' however is bound to be effected with the political developments in early November, experts warned, calling for an early settlement in the political front "to keep the tourism momentum going." As to whether the increase in arrivals will result in Sri Lanka Tourism reaching its target of half a million tourist this year, several tour operators said "the target would have been a reality if not for the current political impasse. "However we have are fingers crossed." |
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