South Indian tourists make beeline for Lanka after end of war

CHENNAI: K Palaniappan, an industrialist, had to shelve a business collaboration when the insurgency broke out in Sri Lanka in the latter part of

the 70s. He had not had a chance to visit e island nation since then. This August, he grabbed the first opportunity he had to visit the country and travel to tourist spots popular long before the war.

Tourist traffic to post-war Lanka has increased exponentially, led by Indians waiting eagerly to visit the neighbouring Paradise Isle'. The number of travellers from south India, including from Chennai, Tiruchi, Bangalore and Hyderabad, increased by 25% to 30% in June and July 2009 compared to previous years, following a promotional drive in India and abroad by the Sri Lankan tourism board to attract leisure and business travellers.

According to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (STDA) statistics, total tourist arrivals to the country has almost doubled since April and May 2009 when the war was at its peak. Tourist arrivals to the island nation touched 42,200 in July 2009 compared to the 24,800 who visited in May and the 30,200 tourists who came in June.

Even during the war, flights from Chennai were full, but a majority of the 600-plus seats available daily were occupied by traders and kuruvis (couriers) ' who returned with duty-free liquor. That is not the case anymore.

"As the war is over tourists can now visit different destinations other than Colombo. We visited Kandy, to see the famous Murugan temple," said Palaniappan, proprietor of Precision Scientific Company, Chennai, who travelled with a group of his Lion's Club friends to celebrate Independence Day there.

The profile of the traveller has broadened to include leisure travellers, corporate travellers, and people travelling on incentives provided by their companies or dealers. "Even private entertainment events organised by Indian companies are being held in Sri Lanka," said Sri Lankan Airlines manager for TN and Karnataka, Sharuka Wickrama. There is also widespread interest from entertainment and corporate circles to hold events in Sri Lanka.