Friday, July 27 , 2012 - 5.55 GMT

Earnings from tourism increases

Earnings from tourism during the first five months of 2012 grew by 24.9 per cent to US dollars 397 million, the Central Bank said in its External Sector Performance review for the month of May 2012. Earnings from tourism in May 2012 grew at a healthy rate of 20.6 per cent to US dollars 57 million. Tourist arrivals in May 2012 increased by 17.5 per cent to 57,506, raising tourist arrivals during the first five months of 2012 to 387,622, the data released by the Central Bank showed. Sri Lanka launched an ambitious five-year plan under the guidance of the Economic Development Minister to boost tourism in the country. Under the plan Sri Lanka expects to raise the number of arrivals to 2.5 million and to earn annual revenue of US$ 2.75 billion by 2016.