Tourism arrivals pass 600,000 target

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Marking a remarkable historical moment, Sri Lanka Tourism celebrated the targeted 600,000 tourist arrivals yesterday.

Tourism officials headed by Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr Nalaka Godahewa welcomed the guests at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr Nalaka Godahewa said this marks a significant moment in the history of tourism. “Sri Lanka is now on the world map as a unique safe destination. With this, we hope to achieve the 700,000 target set for ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011,” he said.

The lucky guest was presented with a six-night seven-day package which includes hotel accommodation, ground transport and entrance tickets to historical tourist sites in the island. Since the end of the conflict in 2009, Sri Lanka has seen an increase in tourism figures. November 2010 saw 72,251 tourists arriving in the country, a marked a 63.1 percent jump as compared to last year and the highest figure attained in a month since 1966. The last highest figure was seen in 2004 recording 66,159 tourists.

“This is my second visit and we are delighted over the fantastic welcome we received. It was a long flight, but fully worth it, the 600,000nd tourist”, Merchant Maritime Welfare Centre CEO Nick Davis told Daily News Business.

“We wish to come to Sri Lanka again and again. This beautiful country needs to be promoted aggressively”, he said.

Its magnificent elephants are very famous and the world should know that a Jewel named Sri Lanka exists, he said.

“It was an amazing experience and we are pleasantly surprised. This is my first visit to Sri Lanka and we will take fond memories back to England. This is also the first time that I won something extraordinary and it is absolutely incredible. I am at a loss for words to describe my feelings,” Layla Dayani said.

Nick and Layla are here for a five-day stay during which they will enjoy a one-day tour to down South.

They will leave the country on Saturday with the hope of returning during next year.