Sri Lanka 'attracting more British visitors'

British visitor numbers are currently on the up in Sri Lanka, according to new figures.

The country's tourist board announced that the number of arrivals from the UK in August 2009 was 16.9 per cent higher than the previous year following the relaxation of travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Sri Lanka recorded an overall increase of 32 per cent in the number of inbound tourists from all source markets last month.

Forward bookings suggest that the Indian Ocean island is set for a strong finish to the year as people travel to the destination to visit attractions such as Yala National Park and Arugam Bay.

Sanjika Perera, Sri Lanka's UK tourism director, said: "We have worked on a persistent promotional campaign in conjunction with the hotel industry back home and with our airline and tour operator partners in the UK and the results have been very positive.

"To have improved visitor figures during the recession shows that the British public are aware of the diversity that Sri Lanka offers and keen to experience an Indian Ocean break, at an attractive price."

Flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city, are available with Sri Lankan Airlines, bmi, Etihad and other carriers.

Posted by Merv, 25 September 2009 12:17

News tags

• Colombo
• Srilankan Airlines
• Etihad
• BMI