Lanka prime destination for German tourists - Ambassador

Germany eases travel advisory :

The German tourists can now visit tourist landmarks in the Eastern Province such as Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara and Arugam Bay as Germany has eased its travel advisory further.

German Ambassador Jens Ploetner, just back from an Eastern tour of tour states that the East has its own charm and has vast tourist potential yet to be tapped.

"Following extensive travel in the Eastern Province we have discovered that no specific security threat exists for tourists anymore," he commented and added that he witnessed large-scale ongoing infrastructure development work. However, the economic conditions of many residents especially of former IDPs still remain bleak, Ambassador Ploetner stated.

"I hope development of tourist-industry in the Province will create new job opportunities substantially."

Making an observation of the overall increase of foreign travel to Sri Lanka Ambassador Ploetner said "the numbers of German tourists have increased over 50 percent in comparison with last year. This no doubt is due to the dawn of peace. I am hopeful that Sri Lanka could once again be a prime destination for German tourists."