The booming Sri Lanka Tourism industry created history by achieving year 2014 arrivals target of 1.5 million tourists on yesterday, 28th December by welcoming the German couple Mr.Torrens Jaime and Mrs.Ciupika Hedwig who arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport via UL558 as the 1.5 millionth tourists to Sri Lanka in year 2014. The couple was given a warm welcome by the Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Mr. Rumy Jauffer, Board of Directors of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau , Industry Leaders and senior Staff of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau at the Bandaranaike International Airport. A Special cultural dance performance was held at Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome the couple and Sri Lanka Tourism offered a special gift and a complimentary package to them to visit country’s tourism attractions. Mr. Torrens Jaime who happened to be an architect by profession and is a great admirer of late legendry Architect Mr.Geoffrey Bawa. The gentleman has much to speak about this legendary and has been moved so much to become an admirer of Sri Lanka with the influence of Mr.Bawa’s architecture.

By achieving year 2014 arrival target of 1.5 million tourists, the tourism industry has shown a steady growth by assuring continuing with the momentum with its key focus 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. This record breaking tourist arrival was made possible by the leadership given by his Excellency president and guidance given by minister of Economic Development Hon. Basil Rajapaksa and efforts made by Sri Lanka tourism.