Sri Lanka Tourism – Korean Air to promote South Korean market to double the visitors

June 15, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka tourism promotion bureau joined hands with Korea Airlines to promote tourism for South Korean market in order to double the arrivals to the Island, a statement said.

“Sri Lanka currently attracts 13,000 visitors from South Korea and we want to double this volume within a year and hence the partnership with Korea Air that operates three flights a week to Colombo will be a key strategy.” said Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau, Rohantha Athukorala.

The Indian Ocean Island’s tourist arrivals grew 26.1 percent to 113,529 in the month of May 2015.

South Korean visitors were up 16.7 percent to 840 in May 2015 compared to the same period last year, data showed.

The arrivals from the same market increased only 1.5 percent 5,670 for the five months ended May 2015 compare to corresponding period in 2014.

India, China, UK, Germany and France are the top five tourist generating countries for Sri Lanka, data showed.

“We must spread our risk given that five destinations account for fifty percent of our tourism receipts which means we must look for new destinations outside these five countries,” Athukorala said.

Athukorala said South Korea that has a 14 Million outbound market is a promising target.

“The good news is that the private sector support is very strong hence we must tie up with Korea Airlines who understands the Korean traveller better than us and together make this destination a 100,000 business in the years to come.” He said.