Sri Lanka's capital city Colombo has been placed on top of the list of fastest growing cities in the world, an annual travel study by the MasterCard stated.
Among the 10 fastest growing cities in the world -based on data gathered over the last six years-, seven are in Asia.
Colombo is first in growth with a staggering 21% surge, with Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province, following in second.
Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, ranked third in terms of growth; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, placed fifth.
Houston is the fastest growing city in North America since 2009 and is the only city in the United States to register double-digit growth over that period.
MasterCard has just released its annual travel study, the Global Destination Cities Index, ranking 132 destination cities around the world in terms of total international overnight visitor arrivals and cross-border spending.
The MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities ranks cities in terms of the number of their total international overnight visitor arrivals and the cross-border spending by these same visitors in the destination cities, and gives visitor and passenger growth forecasts for 2015.
Fastest growing tourist cities
1. Colombo, Sri Lanka 21.1%
2. Chengdu, China 20.7%
3. Abu Dhabi, UAE 20.4%
4. Osaka, Japan 19.8%
5. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 18.0%
6. Xi An, China 16.2%
7. Taipei, Taiwan 14.9%
8. Tokyo 14.6%
9. Lima, Peru 13.9%
10. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 12.9%
vasu Thursday, 4 June 2015 15:27
At last, hearing a good news from our country...
Reply : 17 170
Sahan Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:28
Thank you MR!
Reply : 149 212
Sikuru Thursday, 4 June 2015 18:48
@Sahan Look at the statistics, when the new government came tourist arrivals skyrocketed as SL is no longer ruled by a rouge regime
Reply : 156 134
namal Friday, 5 June 2015 00:07
Honest Government brings good to country GOOD OVERSEAS REPUTATION more Tourists
Reply : 30 71
simon Friday, 5 June 2015 06:00
@SikuruMay be true but they are Indians ,back packers and budget travellers
Reply : 13 48
maverick Friday, 5 June 2015 14:03
@Sikuru read the statistics carefully it says the fastest growing city over the last 6 years not last 100 days. If they make new statistics based on last 100 days , Colombo will be the least growing city in the world haha. Hats off to honourable MR and honourable Gotabaya for their hard work.
Reply : 12 52
Sharon Thursday, 4 June 2015 16:01
Hats off to MR.................
Reply : 103 141
Samitha Thursday, 4 June 2015 21:52
The new gov launched a real big tourism prmotion program with the Airline, tourism development and Tea development in major expos like in EU and China
Reply : 27 14
Manel Friday, 5 June 2015 09:55
Yes hats off for helping to bring MY3.
Reply : 7 12
das Friday, 5 June 2015 10:28
Make up ur mind.I thought we were experiencing a drop in growth after MS came in?
Reply : 6 8
Sikuru Sunday, 7 June 2015 15:11
Tourist arrivals increased 26% last month
Reply : 3 3
Simenthi Sunday, 7 June 2015 19:15
@das actually no it only keeps increasing faster. it grew 8.5% in april and 26% in May
Reply : 1 2
Patta Sunday, 6 September 2015 19:21
Yes Thanks to Gota and MR regime. BecauseColombo becomes the fastest growing city in the worldCountry becomes the fastest debt country in the world
Reply : 0 0
Push Thursday, 4 June 2015 16:21
Some good news after a while. Hoping to hear many more.
Reply : 2 68
SriLankan Thursday, 4 June 2015 16:27
Big thank must go to the former regime and Gotabhya specially.
Reply : 90 157
das Friday, 5 June 2015 10:29
Yes, for leaving and making this possible.
Reply : 12 14
Harry Thursday, 4 June 2015 16:28
What ever said
Reply : 8 34
SG Thursday, 4 June 2015 16:39
What are we gonna say now hitang?
Reply : 6 69
yahapaluwa Thursday, 4 June 2015 16:48
wonder how many countries went pass us in last 100 days
Reply : 25 113
Mick Thursday, 4 June 2015 16:49
Thanks to Rajapakse regime
Reply : 60 133
patriot Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:02
so must thanks to our former president, Mahinda rajapakse.
Reply : 57 131
RATHNASIRI Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:23
Asiywe aschrriya paradawa Lokaye aschariya welaneda
Reply : 3 59
Harry Friday, 5 June 2015 06:31
hithata amaaru wagei needa?
Reply : 1 31
Qatar Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:24
Lets accept the fact that all credit needs to be given to the previous regime.....
Reply : 45 116
channa Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:25
All credit should go to Gota . will see what Yahapalana guys going say now
Reply : 44 117
Lawry Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:30
From archaic to better? How is the growth measured. I conceed Colombo looks good.
Reply : 3 49
Shane Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:34
Proud to hear this.
Reply : 1 75
Aruna Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:39
Well done Mr. MR, what we reap today is what you sow yesterday. Unfortunately we grow nothing today.
Reply : 41 113
Silva Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:52
Excellent ! Love you Sri Lanka !
Reply : 3 62
Damien Thursday, 4 June 2015 17:53
Proof of MR s right decesions
Reply : 73 133
dp Thursday, 4 June 2015 18:12
65% of the population starving, Cost of Living in Higher rate for decade, Cheap labor more than 50% of the population salaries are less than $ 200 per month.Banks pay interest LK 500 rupes for 100000 rupes, lending rates are very high Rs. 1700- 2200 for a Rs. 100000.So what a growth can we see? It is just a gimmick for poor Sri Lankans.
Reply : 94 35
Harry Friday, 5 June 2015 09:27
dp - this survey was done by MasterCard and they have nothing to do with internal politics of any country or growth of a country.
Reply : 0 13
Dillip Friday, 5 June 2015 10:39
I agree. This is all artificial. People are struggling to put three meals on the table. Poverty is at an all time high.
Reply : 12 0
sss Thursday, 4 June 2015 18:16
Taking resources from provinces giving garbage in return to privinces
Reply : 41 20
Esala Thursday, 4 June 2015 19:05
After this year again we are in end of the list with yahapalane if there is no election.
Reply : 17 70
Jimbo Thursday, 4 June 2015 19:07
Its great indeed. Our potential is not known to us and we must show it to the world what Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans are capable of.
Reply : 1 27
Joey Friday, 5 June 2015 12:08
NO. all this statistic shows is an increase in tourist traffic from 2008-2015, and increase in cross border spending. Please put down your flag, nothing to get too serious about.
Reply : 1 3
John. R Thursday, 4 June 2015 19:33
This is excellent to hear. We know that, this was all the work of the previous regime. However, only a minority will understand the effect that will backfire on generations to come. This is not a prolonged achievement but an interim one. Hoping for the best, from the new regiment.
Reply : 35 28
Damien Thursday, 4 June 2015 20:57
I think the Yahapalana clan will understand your logic
Reply : 7 38
Sri Lankan Thursday, 4 June 2015 19:36
It should have been achieved long time back and entered into a different level but unfortunately "We hear this good news in 2015". It does not mean that we have surpassed New York, London, Dubai, etc.. Think of standing with big cities in the world. Congrats and All the best SL!!!
Reply : 3 31
Jesse Thursday, 4 June 2015 19:51
Data was taken from 2009-2015. MR government had a vision for the future. His loss is our loss now because the same growth rate is not there to see anymore.
Reply : 29 85
Neomal Thursday, 4 June 2015 20:00
The ranking is based only on (1) total international visitors (2) their cross border spending. This is not the real growth for the country.
Reply : 49 39
Harry Friday, 5 June 2015 09:29
MasterCard survey has nothing to do with growth of a country.
Reply : 2 7
stardust Friday, 5 June 2015 10:52
Yes, the headline of this article is not correct. The rating is only about the increase of foreign visitors, not about the growth of Colombo.
Reply : 2 4
Frankly Frank Thursday, 4 June 2015 20:56
Dear Gota, Please accept the nations thanks !
Reply : 34 83
Ach-cha-ru Thursday, 4 June 2015 22:45
nikan dunna assayage duth galawanna yanna epa via DM Android App
Reply : 0 0
Desmond Jeromme Thursday, 4 June 2015 23:27
All the credit should go to our Hon. President
Reply : 39 9
Harry Friday, 5 June 2015 09:32
DJ looks you were born only this year, you may have obtained your credits in the same manner [stolen!]
Reply : 1 7
Horri Jimonis Thursday, 4 June 2015 23:29
Thanks to our New Government. Wish this good Governance will continue. Sorry for MR...
Reply : 56 11
Harry Saturday, 6 June 2015 08:42
Pretty sure you do not know who your parents are?
Reply : 1 4
Bubble Banda Thursday, 4 June 2015 23:30
Well done... really appreciate, this is a good start for our New Government. Thanks to MS
Reply : 54 11
Kuda Banda Friday, 5 June 2015 07:47
These the aritcle first this is based on last 6-7 years performance. Give the due credit to people whether you like it or not.
Reply : 5 39
dilip Friday, 5 June 2015 14:07
Kuda BandaVery honest answer, thanks
Reply : 2 12
Martini Friday, 5 June 2015 01:53
OMG Tokyo still growing...
Reply : 1 7
Lanka Friday, 5 June 2015 04:01
We better enjoy the results now because soon it will be "
Reply : 2 20
Lanka Friday, 5 June 2015 04:01
We better enjoy the results now because soon it will be "
Reply : 1 11
mahesh Friday, 5 June 2015 06:24
proud of u SL via DM Android App
Reply : 1 13
Kannan Friday, 5 June 2015 06:26
North Indians and Chinese flocking to Sri Lanka to see the places where Tamil civilians were slaughtered enmasse. They want to see how their weapons worked.
Reply : 37 9
Harry Friday, 5 June 2015 09:34
Check your brain a,s,a,p.
Reply : 2 10
Mevan Friday, 5 June 2015 07:56
Normally this kind of stats are published by reputed international organisations. Looks like this company is engaged in sales promotion in Asia.
Reply : 12 14
Dee Friday, 5 June 2015 08:12
Time to switch red lights on. We can stay on top forever.
Reply : 1 10
Lakshman De Silva Friday, 5 June 2015 08:30
Thanks to the previous regime
Reply : 8 41
Sangaralingham Friday, 5 June 2015 08:53
Growth may be good for the country. But prosperity come with inner peace god moral less greed more respect for each other and plain hard work by the citizens.
Reply : 2 3
Janaka fonseka Friday, 5 June 2015 10:15
what is the source for this news? who did the survey?
Reply : 2 2
upali Friday, 5 June 2015 10:24
Well done by Gotabaya Rajapakse though the Mayor took a twist when MS came.
Reply : 3 8
mountain Friday, 5 June 2015 11:30
thank for india and usa to end the war . plus SF. via DM Android App
Reply : 14 0
Elliot Friday, 5 June 2015 12:08
I think people are getting a little too excited by this news. All this shows is there is a growth of 21% in terms of tourist traffic. Nothing to get too excited about.
Reply : 9 5
Splat Friday, 5 June 2015 14:03
Fastest growing tourist cities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you dumb idiots dont get the words mixed upand Colombo is not worlds fastest growing cites! We are not China. Idiots
Reply : 11 6
dilip Friday, 5 June 2015 14:04
If this regime stays in power we will be at the bottom very soon.
Reply : 8 20
bandara Qatara Friday, 5 June 2015 14:54
thanks for pracidant mahinda rajapaksaa
Reply : 7 17
4 my Lanka Saturday, 6 June 2015 09:03
how poor can thinking be still a struggle to point fingers and direct credit to individuals time to think of national policies and the future of the cointry. This is a blessed country but unfortunately with people who are politically corrupted over decades not to think indipendantly without involving politics. via DM Android App
Reply : 1 4
Desapriya Monday, 8 June 2015 16:20
We do not know with what measuring stick the Master card ranked Colombo. Master Card is not a prominent authority to award this type of ranking and they are a financial institution. In tourism Dubai is the fastest developing city in the world and anybody watching on ground, from the air or from the sea can realize it.
Reply : 1 1
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