October tourist arrivals:

Forty three percent growth

Rasika SOMARATNA

Sri Lanka's tourists arrivals at the end of October has shown a 43 per cent growth in comparison with figures last year, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr.Nalaka Godahewa said yesterday. Addressing the media alongside Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene he said that tourist arrivals at the end of October had come close to 500,000.

According to him during the last 10 years annual tourist arrivals had been below 400,000. However, at present the monthly arrival is between 50,000 - 60,000, he added. "The dawn of peace acted as a catalyst to spur tourist arrivals to the country. It also helped Sri Lanka to utilize its full potential to supplement healthy growth," he added.

Outlining plans for the future Dr.Godahewa said that Sri Lanka Tourism would embark on a major promotional program under the theme "Visit Sri Lanka" during 2011 to attract more tourists. He said that under sub themes such as "Beach" for January,"Sports" for February etc. various initiatives would be adopted every month to spur tourism. He noted that the idea was to get the support of all stakeholders involved in the process. In addition plans are afoot to establish tourism villages, at least one for each Province, he added. Dr.Godahewa said that with the above initiatives and with ones in the pipeline Sri Lanka was well on track to achieve its goal of 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016.