Six-month tourist arrivals to the paradise isle are slightly wobbly, responding to the peace sensitivity index, but are on track with year-end expectations.

Six-month tourist arrivals to the paradise isle are slightly wobbly, responding to the peace sensitivity index, but are on track with year-end expectations. Six-month tourist arrivals to the paradise isle are slightly wobbly, responding to the peace sensitivity index, but are on track with year-end expectations. June’s month on month tourist arrivals showed only a marginal increase of 0.

9 percent and the six-month total of 224,905 showed a 4.

1 percent increase compared to 2003.

This, says the Tourist Board, means the target of over 550,000 visitors by year end can be achieved provided nothing derails the current trend in the coming winter season.

As it is, arrivals from Japan dipped 16 percent last month and the Tourist Board warns that a further drop from this ‘sensitive market’ is likely in the case of further disruptions of domestic peace like another bomb blast.

Internal peace is also attributed for the increased arrivals from markets like UK, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands and Italy.

Arrivals from Italy for instance jumped by 91 percent from 603 in June 2003 to 1,152 last month, to decorate the local beaches instead of the Maldives.