More tourists visiting sunny Lanka

The number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka has increased sharply with a recovery in traditional Western European markets and more visitors from newer south Asian markets after the end of the war.

Tourism Authority data revealed that arrivals rose 31.9 percent to 50,757 last month, from a low base the year before.

Tourism Ministry sources said the number of visitors has been on the rise since the end of hostilities and hotels have been reporting high occupancy rates in the current winter season, with listed hotel companies also reporting profits after years of losses.

Arrivals from Western Europe, the traditional tourist generating market, rose 36.3 percent to 21,230 in January 2010 from a year ago. The number of visitors from the UK went up 24.6 percent to 8,225, those from France up 25.9 percent to 2,272 and from Germany up 54.1 percent to 4,470.

Arrivals from South Asia, a relatively newer tourist generating market for the island, were up 44.3 percent to 12,524 in January from a year earlier.

The numbers were boosted by a surge in visitors from India, up 73.5 percent to 9,141, following promotions in the sub-continent by the Sri Lanka Tourism Authority. The increase in Indian tourists is attributed to the easy visa policies.

Sri Lanka gives visas on arrival to tourists from India, which has become the main tourist generating market for Sri Lanka since 2008. Tourist arrivals from the Middle East, another new market Sri Lanka is targeting, rose 50.1 percent. The numbers from the Eastern Europe rose 8.7 percent. Arrivals from East Asia increased 18.9 percent and those from Japan was up 42.5 percent to 1,227.