Increase in tourist arrivals

COLOMBO: The tourist arrivals during the first two months of 2006 were 104,918 as against 74,832 in 2005 and 93,534 in 2004. There was a drop in tourist arrivals last year due to the tsunami compared with 2004. However, the tourist arrivals in 2006 exceeded even the arrival figures recorded in 2004.

India continued to be the highest prime generating market of tourists accounting for 21% of tourist traffic. The second and third highest are UK and Germany. These three countries together accounted for nearly 46% of the tourist traffic.

The new emerging markets to Sri Lanka are China, Russia and the Middle East. Tourist arrivals from China during the first two months were 3,251 as against 765 in 2005. The drastic increase in arrivals from China was mainly due to the direct airline connections by SriLankan and the promotional campaign by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

The Sri Lanka Tourism target is to receive 600,000 tourists in 2006.