http://www.news.lk/home/18294-tourism-attracts-more-foreign-investments


Tourism attracts more foreign investments
Thursday, 23 June 2011 09:20



Sri Lanka attracted 327,902 tourists during the first five months of this year compared to 233,922 tourists in the first five months of 2010, which is a 40.2 percent increase on year on year basis. Tourist arrivals increased by 46.1 percent in 2010 to 654,476 from 447,890 in 2009 surpassing all the previous arrival records.
Investments in the tourism sector has accounted for US$ 132 million during the first quarter of this year making it the highest ever quarterly Foreign Direct Investment inflow into Sri Lanka for the tourism sector. Direct employment in the tourism sector increased to 72,899 by the end of 2010 from 52,071 in 2009, while indirect employment increased from 55,023 in 2009 to 77,032 in 2010. Total income from tourism increased to US$ 575.09 million in 2010 from US$ 349.03 million in 2009.
Among the programmes launched to improve the tourism sector in the country include a home stay and boutique hotel programme, rural youth training programmes, handicraft and cottage industry development programme and village tour and stay (Grama Charika) programme for the tourist sector in order to percolate the benefits of tourism to the lower segment of the society.(niz)