An increase in numbers, says SLTDA

The number of tourist arrivals has been rising since September according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

Tourist arrivals recorded in September was 29,802 while in October the arrivals had increased to 42,026.

In November the number had increased to 59,759 while statistics also show that this year’s year end tourism has fared better than the corresponding period last year.

This week saw the super luxury cruise ship “Mein Schiff” carrying around 2000 tourists from Europe arriving at the Colombo port.

The tourists enjoyed taking in the sights of Colombo in three wheelers while some flew to Sigiriya and others went on wildlife safari tours to Yala. The ship left last evening.

As part of a move to revive French tourism in Sri Lanka 60 travel agents had arrived in the country on a familiarisation tour recently.

The tour consisted of activities such as trekking, boat rides and cycling, designed to enable the travel agents to interact with the local communities.