- the number of foreign tourist arrival to the country has increased from 447,939 in 2009 to 1.274 million in 2013 and earnings in that regard from US $340 million in 2009 to US $1500 million in 2013 which illustrates an annual average growth of 20-26% during the past five years. Considering the importance of the tourism industry for the economic development of the country and the direct earnings of US $1.5 billion from foreign tourist arrivals and the recorded domestic activities by 5.2 million domestic tourists in 2013, the proposal made by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, to implement a comprehensive mega promotional campaign pertaining to tourism, for a period of two years from 2014 and to proceed with the relevant activities, was approved by the Cabinet.