Sri Lanka takes steps to boost tourism industry

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Sri Lanka takes steps to boost tourism industry

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13 January 2010

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Sri Lankan government is to implement a dual programme to boost the tourism industry to attract more tourists to the country, Tourism Minister, Achala Jagoda, said today.Addressing a media conference at his ministry, the Minister said a sight seeing Double Decker bus service will be introduced for the tourists to view the city of Colombo and the “Jet Liner Ship” would be repaired to give the tourists a view from the sea.The Tourism Ministry plans to establish new hotels in Jaffna, Mannar, and Mullaitivu to draw tourists to uplift the war-battered region.The Minister said there was a sharp increase of 2.1% in tourist arrivals in the first two weeks of January and predicted a better future for the industry.

Tourist arrivals in December 2009 reached 56,862, a jump of 16.2% compared to December 2008. Overall tourist arrivals increased by 2.1% in the year 2009 compared to 2008.

Sri Lanka plans to attract 2.5 million visitors to the country this year. The New York Times recently cited Sri Lanka as one of the 31 places to go in 2010.