Lanka targets 600,000 tourists in 2006

Anjana GAMAGE

COLOMBO: The Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) is expecting a target of 600,000 tourist arrivals by end 2006.

To achieve this target and promote Sri Lanka tourism regionally and globally under Mahinda Chinthana, several crash programmes have been already been introduced and other plans and policies are to kick off shortly, said Tourism Secretary Dr. P. Ramanujam. He was addressing a press conference yesterday at the Government Information Department.

According to him, 52,000 tourist arrivals have been recorded only up to January this year.

Total tourist arrivals to the country in 2004 was 566,202 and in 2005 it was 549,308.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry is expected to receive a value of Rs. 3.2 billion to the Tourism Resources Improvement Project (TRIP) under the Japanese government. The agreement will be signed in Japan by the JBIC Governor and the Sri Lanka Ambassador in mid 2006.

Setting up of Eco Tourism villages and handicraft centres in selected areas, Re-awakening and projects to be undertaken in Ruhuna as a major tourist attraction in the locations of Hummanaya, Madu ganga water springs and Rekawa, Developing of whale and elephant watching facility in Trincomalee area, more training programmes to Hotel School Graduates, providing equipment support for Pradeshiya Sabhas to make the cities clean and green and National awareness programme on Tourism through TV, Print, Radio media and with public hoardings are some of the major plans during 2006 as tourism promotional activities.