Arab travellers surge
Arab travellers to Sri Lanka increase. It surged by 58% in the first 10 months of the year. Statistics compiled by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority indicate that the growth from the Middle East is higher than the overall growth in arrivals to Sri Lanka which is pegged at 43.5%
Sri Lanka is witnessing a dramatic rise in visitors. This has enabled vast development of existing tourism infrastructure with new hotels and better road networks currently underway island-wide to cope with the destinations increasing popularity.
Heba Al Mansoori, Middle East Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau said that several hotel giants are undertaking expansion, refurbishment and major re-development plans to meet increased demand for hotel rooms. She said all this will help accommodate the exponential increase in tourist arrivals. Several development projects in the East are currently underway which was previously inaccessible.
Three areas in focus are Pasikudah, Kuchcheveli and Kalpitiya. Many hotel projects are in progress. In addition other development is also in progress in the rest of the island. We just opened the new Port in the South of the country and a new Airport will be soon opened as well in the South.