Sri Lanka '08 tourist arrivals down 11.2 pct yr/yr

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka fell by 11.2 per cent in 2008 from a year ago to 438,475 visitors as an intensified war against separatist rebels and global recession deterred visitors.

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka fell by 11.2 per cent in 2008 from a year ago to 438,475 visitors as an intensified war against separatist rebels and global recession deterred visitors, the government said on Thursday.

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The island nation received 494,008 tourists in 2007. December arrivals fell 19.9 per cent to 48,925, tourism board data showed. Tourism Board Director General S Kalaiselvam said the financial crisis would likely trim arrivals by about 10 per cent in 2009.