Lanka is most facinating tourist place for Indians

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Despite the fear of ethnic conflict, Sri Lanka continues to be the most attractive tourist destination for Indian tourists.

A total of 113,323 Indians visited the island nation last year which shows a 7.8 percent increase compared to 2004 tourist a rrivals, said Sri Lankan Tourism Board Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara during a media briefing here today.

This year the Board is targeting 150,000 tourists from India, he added.

The Toursim Board, jointly with Sri Lankan Airlines, has organised special road shows and intreractive business sessions with Indian travel and trade fraternity in Delhi, Mumbai, Hydeabad and Bangalore.

Sri Lankan Airlines has unveiled an attractive tourist package by which one can visit Sri Lanka and after a two day stay there, can proceed either to Singapore, Kualalumpur or Bangkok on a Rs 14000 plus tax return fare.

''India is one of the key source markets for Sri Lanka. The key factors responsible for increase in Indian arrivals are Visa on arrival, destination competitive pricing and increased connectivity from all key Indian metros,'' Mr Nanayakkara said.

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