Average 100 flights per week from the region:

Middle Eastern tourist arrivals on the increase

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

ARRIVALS: Middle East tourist arrivals are showing a steady growth despite an overall 24 percent decline in the first six months of the year.

There were 4,035 arrivals in the first six months of the year which is a 9.7 percent increase as against the corresponding period last year.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Faizer Mustapha said the main reason for the increases in Gulf arrivals is the recent promotions in the region.

Deputy Minister said that these were achieved spending only less than 3 percent from the Ministries overall marketing budget. “This is a very positive sign and most of the travellers were for leisure,” he said.

The average 100 flights per week from the Middle Eastern region are also another plus point to increase arrivals.

In addition to the Middle Eastern population, there are nearly one million expatriates in the region which makes Middle East an untapped gold mine.

The 9 -11 incidents in USA and the high security in Britain and Europe have forced gulf nationals to travel within Asia. “This region has tremendous tourist potential and is a high performing market it was ignored in the recent past,” he said.

The Malaysian government has understood this potential and is wooing many Middle Eastern travellers. “Sri Lanka too should follow suit,” he said.

The Middle Eastern nationals travel out during June to September since the climate is very scorching.

“This the off season for European arrivals in Sri Lanka and increase in the Gulf market would give better revenue to the industry,” he said.

Deputy Minister said that Middle Eastern nationals like to travel with their families and are long stay clients. “Since their currency is strong their spending power too is high when they come to Sri Lanka” he said.

The recently concluded Arabian Travel Market in Dubai also gave valuable exposure to Sri Lanka, which would help increase arrivals. This is also the first time that a Deputy Minister attended this event.

“We hope to increase this growth to around 50 percent by the end of next year,” he said.

Several road shows, brining down Gulf travel journalists and other promotions are too be held in the region while the Sri Lanka Tourist Board is also hoping to open an office in Dubai next year.