By Abdullah Al-Harbi (with photos)

KUWAIT, Aug 27 (KUNA) -- Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Tourism Faizer Musthapha said on Wednesday that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourists to Sir Lanka increased 30 percent in 2008, marking a noticeable improvement.

Musthapha told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) upon his meeting with Kuwaiti tourism officials that he was expecting this number to double next year, according to Sir Lankan tourism plans.

He pointed out the his country was keen to attract more GCC tourists, in the light of future tourism plans to develop the tourism sector, asserting on the importance of providing all possible means to facilitate Kuwaiti-Sir Lankan tourism cooperation.

Musthapha explained that the security situation in Sir Lanka would be restored soon.

On his part, Acting Commerce and Industry Undersecretary Jamal Al-Shaya said that Kuwait was seeking through such meetings to activate that role of local tourism through benefiting from other countries successful experiences.

Al-Shaya who is assistant undersecretary for corporate licensing tourism affairs pointed out that Sir Lanka obtained a lot of potentials that enables the country to be tourism hot spot.

He said that promoting bilateral cooperation between both countries, namely in the area of commerce topped their meeting talks, as well as activating the role of joint commercial committees Kuwaiti investors best interests.

Al-Shaya further noted that the ministry was sparing no expense of effort to revive local tourism through family projects strategies.