The Hindu Business Line : Sri Lanka hopes to attract six-lakh tourists this year

Sri Lanka aims to attract one million tourists by 2010. The Sri Lanka Tourism Board, along with SriLankan Airlines and the Taj Group of hotels, conducted a road show here on Friday, showcasing the tourism potential of the island nation.

Addressing a press conference, Ms Madubhani Perera, Assistant Director of the Board, said the board had set a target of six-lakh tourists this year against 5.49 lakh in 2005. Of this, India was expected to account for 1.5 lakh against 1.13 lakh in 2005. "By 2010, we expect two-lakh Indians to visit our country," she said.

The road shows, covering top Indian cities, would see interactions with 600 companies, including tour operators. Stating that an average tourist spent $73 a day during his/her stay, she said the board expected that this would increase to $150.

Mr N. Prabaharan, Regional Manager (Sri Lanka and Indian Sub-Continent) of SriLankan Airlines, said the airline would focus on Tier-II cities such as Coimbatore, Mangalore and Ahmedabad.

The airline would add Goa by November, which would take the total number of destinations in India to 10, and flights a week to 90. The airline has offered a special summer package valid up to June. This includes airfare, hotel stay and rebates at top shopping malls. Unfazed by the recent attack by a suicide bomber on the Chief of Army, he said recent incidents would not have any impact on tourist arrivals. "We are used to such kind of incidents," he said.

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