German tourist arrivals to hit new high

German tourist arrivals are expected to increase by 15%-20% in 2012, following a successful show at the latest Berlin international tourism fair.

Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana told the media that during the fair, much interest was generated about Sri Lanka with over four TV channels and a dozen newspapers carrying articles on its attractive destinations.

“Based on the interest that we generated, we can assume that targeted German tourists will increase by as much as 15% this year. There is strong interest expressed by tour operators and the local businesses that participated in the fair received a very good response,” he said.

In fact the response was better than what the companies had received the previous year, showing a clear increase of interest. Abeywardana was quick to stress that the current negative sentiments in the Eurozone regarding the US resolution at the UN Human Rights Council would in no way impact tourism or any other trade in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, in a move that will further boost arrivals, Cabinet last week gave approval for the establishment of a Wild Elephant Confinement Centre at Horawapathana at a cost of Rs. 30 million over the space of three years.   On a joint proposal made by Minister of Environment Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S.M. Chandrasena, Cabinet dec-ided to establish a Wild Elep-hant Confinement Centre at Horawapathana in order to minimise damages caused by wild elephants.

The holding centre is also being established with the view of preserving elephants to bolster the eco tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

A land area of 1582 hectares in extent belonging to the Department of Forest Conservation in Horowupothana, covering the Northern and North Western Region, will be used to minimise human-elephant conflict. However it was not immediately clear whether this would reduce the migration of elephants into farming areas.