Sri Lanka Tourism officials including Managing Director SLTPB –Mr. Rumy Jauffer along with representatives from travel and tourism industry including Mr. Mervyan Fernandopulle (Board Member SLTPB) , Mr. Kumuda Eramudugolla (SLITO) , Mr. Sam Tiegel (ASMET) , Mr. Neville Rogers (Negombo Hoteliers Association) warmly welcomed the couple Mr. Joshua Gladstein and Ms. Sophie Nathan who arrived via UL 504 Sri Lankan Airlines flight from London at 12.45 hrs as the one millionth tourist in year 2014 to Sri Lanka. The couple has visited Sri Lanka on the date of their 01st wedding Anniversary today and said that they are indeed delighted to be the 01 millionth tourist of Sri Lanka. Special cultural dance performance was held at BIA to welcome the couple and Sri Lanka Tourism offered a special gift and a complimentary package to the lucky tourist couple who arrived today to visit country’s well- known attractions.

With the arrival of the one millionth tourist today, the booming tourism industry of Sri Lanka has shown early signs of achieving its goal of 1.5 million tourist arrivals target set for year 2014 under the guidance of Ministry of Economic Development, adding another ground breaking record in tourism industry. The key focus for tourism industry for the next two years is to attract a number of 2.5 million arrivals by the end of 2016. This strategic development plan of Sri Lanka tourism will achieve its core objectives serving the needs of all stakeholders and ensuring the economic benefits of the industry distributed to a larger cross section of the society being in line with the national effort of making Sri Lanka, the emerging Wonder of Asia. (HC)