Major influx of Middle East tourists to Sri Lanka

Announcing the results, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau's Middle East Office confirmed that the strongest growth was registered from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Among the other markets that were a major source of tourists to Sri Lanka during the nine month period included France, Finland, Norway, Japan Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Australia and New Zealand.

"With peace finally prevailing after almost three decades of strife, we are confident that these results will be sustained through till the end of 2009 and beyond,"

remarked SLTPB Middle East Director, Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori.

Post-conflict Sri Lanka is proving to be a magnet for regional travellers and the Eid-break saw a surge in travel to the island nation which is only three and a half hours flying time away.

Cultural attractions, entertainment, shopping, and dining are some of the factors that draw modern day Arab travelers to their preferred destinations and Sri Lanka offers a good product that scores on all counts and is less than four hours flying time away from the Gulf.

Factors such as the government's support for the tourism sector, and expansion of low-cost carrier services are also contributing to the growth of the tourism industry.

Sri Lanka offers diversity within easy reach in a small island. Among the many soubriquets showered upon this tiny island include Serendipity, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma and Pearl of the Indian Ocean to name a few and none comes even close to articulate the true beauty and old world charm of Sri Lanka.