Tourist arrivals up in February
Irangika Range
Tourist arrivals in February 2011 have increased by 15 percent to
65,797 compared to the same month last year which was only 57,300. These
figures reflect the rising confidence among visitors and tour operators
in Sri Lanka, a Sri Lanka Tourism spokesman said.
He further said that the thousands of visitors arriving in Sri Lanka
for the ICC Cricket World Cup have also resulted in an increase in
arrivals. The government expects more than 750,000 tourists this year.
The sustained positive growth will hopefully help achieve the target
of the Sri Lanka Tourism Year 2011.
There was an increase in the number of arrivals from Western Europe,
South Asia, East Asia, Middle East and North America. According to the
figures issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority,the
arrivals from North America increased 33.4 percent to 7,746 from 5,805
for the first two months while arrivals from Latin America increased
82.8 percent to 234 from 128 a year ago.
Arrivals from Western Europe increased 32.5 percent to 63,719 from
48,080 while Eastern Europe tourist increased 13.1 percent to 10,445
from 9,234. African arrivals increased 71.8 percent to 421 from 245
while arrivals from Middle East increased 21.8 percent to 5,359 from
4,396.
Arrivals from East Asia increased 31.4 percent to 14,229 from 10,832
while arrivals from South Asia increased 29.1 percent to 31,485 from
24,393.
Arrivals from other countries increased 28.6 percent to 6,356 from
4,944 a year ago. |