Sri Lanka’s leisure industry recovers in February

Mar. 22 (LBO) -- Sri Lanka's tsunami-hit tourism industry continued to recover this year, with arrivals for the two months to February rising 40.



2 percent to 104,918 visitors, the Tourist Board said Wednesday.



The tropical island famed for its golden beaches, lush, tea-growing mountains and historic sites dating back 2,500 years, greeted 52,687 (up 43.8 percent) holidaymakers in February.

"The numbers are encouraging, though they are off a low base during the initial post-tsunami months," Tourist Board's acting Director Statistics K Gnanaratnam told LBO.

Arrivals from the traditional European markets, which provide the bulk of package tourists, rose 65.

8 percent for the 12-months to February to 25,376.

Visitors from Germany led the pack, rising 76 percent to 5,233, while Britain chipped in with 8,759 travellers, up 45.

4 percent year-on-year to February.

However, Indian nationals continued to be the single largest group of visitors in what used to be a European-dominated market.

The tourist board said that 10,480 (up 44.

9 percent) Indians made use of discount airline packages to visit the island in February.

Indians, on average, stay under five days in city hotels, spending US$100