Tourist arrivals rise
The number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka has increased steadily and
is expected to cross 711,000 this year, the Immigration Fepartment said,
attributing it to the improving law and order situation.
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For many foreigners Sri Lanka is a “dream land” with its
vast stretches of sea coasts and availability of good
infrastructure. |
“Despite adverse travel advisories by some countries, the tourists
arrivals here have only increased substantially depicting the return of
peace in the country,” Controller, Visa, of Sri Lankan Department of
Immigration and Emigration, Damayanthi Jayaratne said. Meanwhile, the
Sri Lankan Tourism (SLT) said an earlier travel advisory imposed by the
government of Belgium advising visitors to refrain from non-essential
travel to Sri Lanka has been revised since Friday, August 29 last month.
“The new advisory allows tour operators from Belgium to market Sri
Lanka aggressively for the upcoming winter season,” it said adding the
relaxed travel advisory only mentions travel restrictions to the North
and the Eastern regions and Yala.
“It is hoped that the Belgium travel advisory will result in similar
relaxations of travel advisories from other European nations as well,”
the SLT said in a statement.
Jayaratne said for many foreigners Sri Lanka was a “dream land” with
its vast stretches of sea coasts and availability of good
infrastructure.
“We have already issued 519,000 tourist visas for foreigner till
August 31, 2008 and the tourist season is yet to come,” Jayaratne said
adding there were encouraging signs of the levels easily crossing the
last years mark of 711,000.
PTI |
