The Hindu : National : Sri Lanka to open second tourist office in south India

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Friday, Apr 20, 2007
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National

National

Sri Lanka to open second tourist office in south India

Special Correspondent

C.R. Jayasinghe

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka Tourism plans to open its second office in south India to enhance its presence and target arrivals from the country to the island at 1.5 lakh by this year-end.

The recently launched "Visit Sri Lanka" campaign is being extended by yet another month to capture the Indian holiday summer season, under which attractive packages will be offered.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, C.R. Jayasinghe, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, said that with about 95 weekly flights to Sri Lanka from India and the facility of "Visa-on-Arrival" for Indian citizens, Sri Lanka had come to be seen as a "very attractive destination." Dileep Mudadeniya, Sri Lanka Tourist Board's Additional Director-General, said Indian travellers could easily explore shopping, entertainment, leisure, sports, rejuvenation and religious circuits at competitive prices.

"The board will also be reviving religious, cultural ties through the Buddhist and Ramayana trails. As Sri Lanka is regarded as the high seat of Buddhism and the Kandy Perehera festival is known the world over, the religious aspect will be vigorously promoted to target a different segment." Last year Sri Lanka received 1.24 lakh Indian tourists, registering an overall increase of 13.3 per cent compared to the 2005 figures.

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