This year was a historical year for Sri Lanka Tourism
Minister Basil Rajapakse has said that the year 2011 was a historical year for the Tourist Industry.
It was during this year that the highest number of tourists arrived in the country. It is expected that the tourist arrivals by the end of this year will amount to eight hundred and fifty thousand.
Minister Rajapakse said that the Government hopes to get nine hundred and fifty thousand tourists next year and increase this figure to two point five Million by the year 2016. The Minister made these comments at a function held yesterday to provide allocations for plans submitted by Provincial Councils to develop the Tourist Industry. Strengthening of the Economic development of the Provincial Councils is expected through these plans. Financial allocations amounting to hundred and ninety eight million rupees were granted to the North Western, Uva, Southern and Western Provincial Councils.
Speaking further the Minister said that no country in the world has recorded an increase in Tourist Development similar to Sri Lanka. He pointed out that the revenue earned by the country due to the development in the tourist arrivals amounted to one billion US Dollars.
(Source: www.slbc.lk – 25th December, 2011)