China Bay Airport to open shortly
Shirajiv SIRIMANE
Sri Lanka Tourism has spent Rs. 3 million to refurbish the China Bay
airport in Trincomalee. Sri Lanka Tourism has repainted the interior.
The airport is to be reopened next month after a major refurbishment
for the domestic sector. The airport would be initially operated by the
Air Force. With the liberation of the East, a domestic airport was a
necessity and this would increase investments and develop tourism in the
area.
Director General Sri Lanka Tourism, D. Kalaiselvam said there are
several leading star hotels in the area and with air connectivity they
would have increased arrivals.
Serendib Air also had a stop over in Trincomalee in their Jaffna
flight and the airline is expected to resume flights. In addition, Mihin
Air also has plans to operate domestic flights.
Kalaiselvam said they are expecting around 450,000 arrivals by the
end of this year. "So far there have being over 300,000 arrivals and we
expect more arrivals in the winter," he said.
Indian arrivals accounted to over 20 per cent while UK arrivals were
at the second place.
The Ministry in a bid to woo more Indian tourists will be conducting
a road show in Gujarat on October 5. He said last year the revenue
generated from tourism was around US$400 million and this year too this
target would be met.
In the out bound market there were 300,000 and the main markets were
Thailand, Singapore and India. |