Number of tourists to Jaffna on the rise
by Uditha Kumarasinghe
Around 200,000 local and foreign tourists have visited Jaffna during the last week due to the steps taken by the Government to eradicate terrorism from the country.
This is the first time such an unprecedented number of tourists had visited Jaffna via the A-9 road after 30 years owing to the moves taken by the Government to restore peace in the North and the East, Tourism Minister, Achala Jagoda told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
The Minister said a large number of local and foreign tourists had visited key historic places in Jaffna last week including the Delft Islands and the temples in Nagadeepa. Special boat services have been commenced for the benefit of the tourists to visit Delft and Nagadeepa islands.
The Tourism Ministry has already formulated a program to develop the infrastructure facilities in the North and establish observation spots in the North. Arrangements have also been made to establish three Tourism Complexes in Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts with modern facilities.
According to the Minister hundred-acre land plot will be reserved from each district to set up these Tourism Complexes. The Government will seek the assistance of investors to construct these tourism complexes.
Minister Jagoda said tourist arrivals have recorded a remarkable increase after the elimination of terrorism. Foreign tourists have shown interest to visit Sri Lanka which is one of the best and safest tourist destinations in the world.
Local and foreign visitors can now travel to any part of the country," Jagoda said.
The Ministry of Tourism has decided to promote the tourism industry this year under the theme "travel freely in a free Sri Lanka".
The Tourism Ministry has formulated plan to increase the present number of tourist arrivals by five fold in 2016.
(Source: Sunday Observer – 14th February, 2010)