Sri Lanka eyes 26 per cent growth in Indian tourists

Kolkata: Sri Lanka is eyeing a 26 per cent growth in the footfall of tourists from India in the year 2017. “We had 3,56,000 tourists from India in the year 2016. This year we are aiming at 4,50,000 travellers from the country, a growth of 26 per cent,” Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, (SLTPB) assistant director marketing, India, Viranga Bandara said.

The SLTPB  organised its first ever roadshow in Kolkata. “We will be participating for the first time in the Travel & Tourism Fair in Kolkata that kicks off from Saturday. We are promoting Sri Lanka as a wedding tourism spot, for Ramayana trail and have identified film tourism as well,” Mr Bandara said, adding that India is maintaining number one position position for Srilanka tourism. SLTPB is investing in digital marketing campaign to lure Indians to experience the country’s seductive beaches, water sports, mountains among other spots.

“We are planning to give a major boost to film tourism as there is a demand in shooting Indian films in our country. But carrying shooting equipments is a problem. We will be facilitating logistical arrangements and approvals and hence we are working on a single window clearance and our process of approvals is without any delay,” Mr Bandara said.

Srilanka is gradually emerging as a favourite destination for marriages. “In the last few years people particularly from Maharashtra have travelled to our country for holding marriages. The eastern India is also picking up,”  SriLankan Airlines area manager, Kolkata, Lalith Peiris said.

The carrier operates more than 100 flights a week from India and three from Kolkata. “We are soon launching operations from Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Vishakhapatnam,” Mr Peiris said.