An interim report of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) lists Sri Lanka with a 50 percent growth in tourist arrivals among 77 countries that have reported international arrivals data so far.

The report states that Sri Lanka outperformed 23 other countries with double-digit growth rates. Saudi Arabia was ranked second (+45%) with Israel ranking 3rd (+37%), while Vietnam (+36%) at the 4th place and Nepal (+30%) fifth, Sri Lanka News Network reported.

In 2009, South Asia, with nearly ten million arrivals, accounted for only 1.1 percent of international tourist arrivals. In the same year, South Asia earned $15 billion in receipts from tourism with Sri Lanka earning $350 million. Maldives earned $590 million while India had the highest earning of $10.6 billion for the same period.

Marketed as Asia’s most treasured island, Sri Lanka’s diverse attractions have long been a favorite of European tourists. More recently the country has been heavily wooing Indian, Arabic and Chinese travelers as well.

Tourism is currently the fourth foreign exchange earner of the country, behind foreign remittances, apparel and tea.

According to Sri Lanka Tourist Board statistics the employment generation is over 150,000 and with the current arrival trend this is expected to shoot up to 600,000 by 2016. With the average tourist arrivals which is around 425,000 to bring in a revenue around US $450 million.

Sri Lanka is hosting several international events such as Indian International Film Awards, Pacific Asia Travel meeting and Asia Cup Cricket which will definitely see an influx of tourist arrivals in the country this year.