Sri Lanka Tourist Board and airlines decide to tap Indian market

Mumbai, Nov 30 (UNI) Sri Lanka Tourist Board in association with the Sri Lankan Airlines has decided to focus on India to attract tourists, particularly from trade business and industry, to the island nation.

After launching a roadshow here today to showcase his country, Board Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara said ''India is leading producer of tourism to Sri Lanka with 1,10,453 arrivals till October this year, accounting for 19.8 per cent increase as compared to last year's figure''.

He said tourism industry is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lankan's economy with India being the foremost contributor at 20 per cent of total tourist arrivals, adding the island nation was hopeful of achieving the target of more than five lakh tourists for the fourth consecutive year in 2006.

With over 14,000 hotel rooms and modern amenities for holding conferences, conventions and exhibitions, Sri Lanka, he said , can adequately cater to the needs of travellers from business and industry. '' We are optimistic of witnessing 20 per cent increase in Indian business tourists as one of the private Indian carriers commences its operations to Sri Lanka shortly '', he added.

''With a total of 1,13,323 tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka from India, the latter remains a promising market accounting for 25 per cent trade tourists'', he said.

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