Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up 17.5-pct in March 2014

Apr 06, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 17.



5 percent to 133,048 in March 2014 from a year earlier backed by strong growth from Eastern Europe, East Asia and India, official data showed. Newly emerging Poland extended gains rising 67.

2 percent to 1,903.

In the first quarter Poland had generated 6,354 visitors up 59.

7 percent from a year earlier. Eastern European visitors were up 56.5 percent to 66,421 in the first quarter.

Visitors from East Asia were up 43.

5 percent to 21,751 in March with China including Hong Kong up a blistering 155 percent to 7,700. Japan was up 53.7 percent to 3,800 and Indonesia rose 7.8 percent to 3,223. Malaysia was up 51.8 percent to 2,301.

Korea fell 23.4 percent to 1,033. East Asian visitors were up 53 percent to 72,639.

South Asia was up 15.9 percent with India up 22.6 percent to 18,734. Maldives rose 1.6 percent to 7,419 and Pakistan was up 17.

2 percent to 2,500.

In the quarter South Asian visitors were up 17.5 percent to 84,278.

Visitors in the first quarter were up 24.8 percent to 421,501 from a year earlier.

Western Europe grew 4.5 percent to 44,824 with Germany up 19.

9 percent to 12,448, France up 27.8 percent to 9,26