Jan 11, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Tourism Ministry said that December tourist arrivals to the country increased by 55.8 percent.

“Sri Lanka tourism which recovered after a year long slump since September 2006 out did its 20 percent growth in November 2007, with a 55.8 percent increase in December,” the Ministry said.

Arrivals that had decreased by 40 percent in May of last year, had picked up by year end, to finish the year with 494,008 arrivals narrowing the drop to 11.7 percent.

“January looked promising with the visiting Bohra Spiritual Leader and accompanying devotees filling up city hotel rooms at premium prices. The overflow of visitor demand in the city was also taken by Negombo, Wadduwa and Kalutara Hotels,” it said.

Tourism Minister, Milinda Moragoda hoped that 2008 as the year of consolidation. “Much effort will be laid on improving the quality of the tourism products while focusing on key markets such as India, Middle East, China and Russia that have shown a growth potential. Much will be done also to consolidate the conventional markets from Western Europe,” he said.