Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up 26-pct in Aug; India, China surge

Sept 16, 2013 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals surged 26.1 percent in August 2013 from a year earlier to 100,224, with India, Germany and China surging, official data showed.

Middle East which was also lacklustre this year was up 75.4 percent to 8,683 in the month with visitors so far up 4.0 percent 35,931.

East Asian visitors were up 33,4 percent to 78,781, with China growing 74.

6 percent to 4,098.

China had become Sri Lanka's largest source market in the region during the past 12 months, but in August the previous leader Japan, rose 33.5 percent to 4,407.

Corrected - Aug increase 26.1-pct Arrivals up to August were up 14.3 percent to 711,446.

Indian arrivals, the largest source market, rose 29.

2 percent to 14,528 in August showing strong growth for the second month in a row after bucking a near two year trend in lackluster performance.

Arrivals were up despite a weaker Indian rupee, which could indicate that other destinations, where greater distances are involved, have become even less affordable, analysts say.

South Asian arrivals rose 35.9 percent to 22,208 with Maldives rising 32.1 percent to 4,668 and Pakistan rising 96.

5 percent