Sri Lanka is anticipating over two folds growth in the number of Indian tourist arrivals to the island nation this year, banking largely on the Ramayana Circuit and other common cultural heritage sites. The Indian tourist arrivals to the country foreseeing to cross one million mark in 2019, said John A E Amaratunga ,Sri Lanka Minister of Tourism Development.
In 2018, about 450,000 Indian travellers visited Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, has developed the Ramayana circuit by identifying several places connected with the ancient Indian epic to woo Indian tourists.
“We have rediscovered the Ramayana circuit and also identified a number of spots.We are coming out with the authentic documentaries,” as said by Amaratunga. He also added “Now we are targeting almost up to one million (10 lakh) arrivals with all the publicity which we are doing all what which we have to offer” .India and Sri Lanka have well connectivity as there are around 27 daily flights from India to the island nation.He assured Indian tourists that his country is safe and sound for them and bad days are gone now.
“Now they are coming for weeding and conventions also,” Amaratunga said while addressing the media at Business & Luxury Travel Mart (BLTM) 2019. In the BLTM, Sri Lanka has the largest pavilion here in BLTM. In BLTM 2019, 11 countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Spain, the Philippines, Egypt and Dubai are participating. From India, 15 of Indian states are also participating this mega event.
