Tourist arrivals in August up by 33 per cent

A. G. Piyadasa

TOURISM: Tourist arrivals increased by 33 per cent last August compared to the corresponding month in 2005.

The cumulative tourist arrivals for the first eight months of this year recorded an increase of 12% over the same period last year. During the month of August 2006, tourist arrivals from Western Europe showed a decrease of 2.4%, when compared to the same month last year.

Major markets such as France, Netherlands and Italy increased by 0.2%, 71% and 4.2% while U.K. and Germany declined by 10.4% and 19.6% respectively.

However, U.K. continued its position as the second major tourist generating market to Sri Lanka during the month. All other markets, except Finland (-11.7%), Switzerland (-15.6%), Denmark (-22.8%) and Norway (-37.3%) showed increases during the month.

In August 2006, arrivals from South Asia increased by 30.4% while East Asia declined by 2.9% respectively, when compared to the figures of the same month in 2005. Considering the major markets of this region, India showed an increase of 27.8% while Japan declined by 11.4% respectively.

India continued its position as major tourist generating market to Sri Lanka during the month. Other markets, except for Taiwan (-2.8%), South Korea (11.2%), Malaysia (18.8%) and Singapore (33.9%) showed increases during the month.

Arrivals from the North American region recorded a decrease of 32.5%, mainly due to the decreases in arrivals from U.S.A. (-21.6%) and Canada (-42.6%) when compared to the same month last year.

Australasia decreased by 17.7%, mainly due to the decrease in arrivals from Australia (20.6%). All other regions, Middle East (13.3%), Eastern Europe (36.3%), and Latin America and The Caribbean (75.0%) showed increases while Africa declined by 14.8% during the month.