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Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 06.32 GMT |
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JICA helps
improve tourist hubs |
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Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) has offered USD 20 million to improve infrastructure in five towns that tourists frequently visit. The tows are Anuradhapura and Sigiriya in the North-Central area, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy in the central hills, and Negombo on the west coast.
Tourism authorities have planned a global promotional campaign to draw visitors with new events such as night surfing. Attempts are also being made to send the message on the island’s attractions to the Sri Lankan Diaspora as well.
With tourist arrivals up 31.9 percent in January alone from a year ago, the authorities expect the total number of visitors this year to increase by 25 – 30 percent. The end of Sri Lanka’s 30-year conflict has resulted in an immediate increase in tourist arrivals.
Over half-a-million tourists are expected to visit Sri Lanka this year as the travel trade bounces back strongly from the effects of the war. Some hotels are reported to be refusing new reservations till end of March, the Ministry of Tourism revealed.
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