Lanka seeks more tourist inflow from Pakistan
Tourist arrivals into Sri Lanka during September slipped 3.6 per cent to 37,104 compared to the same period in 2006.
By PTI |
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan tourism industry, which has been reeling under a severe impact of the ongoing LTTE conflict, is now looking at friendly neighbours like Pakistan to give a boost to the ailing sector.
The tourism sector, which already has promotional schemes for Indian tourists, is now working on measures to bring in a greater number of visitors from Pakistan and other countries.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Shazad A Choudhry has said that measures will be undertaken to promote tourism between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Choudhry told reporters here on Wednesday that the jewellery, garment and leather sector will be developed for increased trade between the two countries.
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been operational since June 12, 2005.
Tourist arrivals into the island country during the month of September slipped 3.6 per cent to 37,104 compared to the same period in 2006. The drop for the first nine months till September this year was 21 per cent to 350,779 as compared to the same period of 2006, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) said.
South Asian countries like India and Pakistan constituted among the highest tourist arrivals during the tsunami devastation that hit Sri Lankan tourism three years ago.
Choudhry said nearly 4,800 tourists visit Pakistan from Sri Lanka every year and they hope to increase this number.
Besides eco-tourism, initiatives would be taken to make visitors aware of Buddhist sites and historical places in Pakistan to increase the tourist inflow between the two countries, he added.
The tourism sector, which already has promotional schemes for Indian tourists, is now working on measures to bring in a greater number of visitors from Pakistan and other countries.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Shazad A Choudhry has said that measures will be undertaken to promote tourism between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Choudhry told reporters here on Wednesday that the jewellery, garment and leather sector will be developed for increased trade between the two countries.
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been operational since June 12, 2005.
Tourist arrivals into the island country during the month of September slipped 3.6 per cent to 37,104 compared to the same period in 2006. The drop for the first nine months till September this year was 21 per cent to 350,779 as compared to the same period of 2006, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) said.
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South Asian countries like India and Pakistan constituted among the highest tourist arrivals during the tsunami devastation that hit Sri Lankan tourism three years ago.
Choudhry said nearly 4,800 tourists visit Pakistan from Sri Lanka every year and they hope to increase this number.
Besides eco-tourism, initiatives would be taken to make visitors aware of Buddhist sites and historical places in Pakistan to increase the tourist inflow between the two countries, he added.
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