Tourist arrivals: Indians top the list

Ananth PALAKIDNAR

COLOMBO: Indian tourist arrivals to the country is on the increase with Indians topping the list ahead of tourists from Britain and other European countries, Tourist Board Director General S.Kalaiselvam said.

Commenting on the encouraging trend in the arrival of Indian tourists to the country, Kalaiselvam told the Daily News that from January to May this year, 51,000 Indian tourists had arrived in Sri Lanka.

"We expect at the end of this year the arrival of Indian tourists to reach around 150,000. The number will be 37,000 more than the total number of 113,000 Indian tourists who arrived in the island last year," Kalaiselvam added.

First Secretary, Economic Affairs of the Indian High Commission Sanjay Sudhir told the Daily News since the Free Trade Agreement was signed between India and Sri Lanka, the arrival of Indian tourists gradually increased to the island and now it was on the top of the list above all other countries which use Sri Lanka as a popular tourist destination.

"Indians prefer shopping and sight seeing in Sri Lanka and they also remain the highest spending tourists compared to Europeans arriving in the island," Sudhir said.

Kalaiselvam elaborating further on the increase of Indian tourist arrivals, said the liberal air policy has also attributed much to the increase in the Indian arrivals. The liberal air policy has allowed our national carrier to reach any Indian destination.

On the other hand India has also given the green light to some of its domestic air operators such as Jet and Sahara air lines, he said.
"A large number of Indians also use Sri Lanka as a viable destination for business meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Above all, Indians get visa for 30 days on arrival to the country without any restrictions.
These factors have attributed in a big way in placing the Indians on the top of the list with regard to the arrival of tourists to the country," Kalaiselvam said.
