(a) Visitor/Tourist Excursionist:
In
March 1993, the U.N.O. Statistical Commission
adopted a set of recommendations for tourism statistics
prepared by the World Tourism Organization (W.T.O.) as a
follow-up to the Ottawa International Conference for Travel and
Tourism Statistics, held in June 1991. These recommendations
have been followed in this report for defining "International
Visitor", "International Tourist" and “International
Excursionist". The definitions are:
i.
The
term 'International Visitor’ refers to any person who travels to
a country other than that in which he/she has his/her usual
residence but outside his/her usual environment for a period not
exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose of visit is other
than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the
country visited.
ii.
The term 'International Tourist' (overnight
visitor) is an International visitor who stays at least one
night in a collective or private accommodation in the country
visted.
iii.
The term 'International Excursionist' (same day
visitor) refers to an International visitor who does not spend
the night in a collective or private accomodation in the country
visited.
To
clarify further the following are excluded from the definition
of 'International Visitor'
1.
All persons arriving with a specific purpose of engaging
themselves in gainful occupation or to establish residence in
Sri Lanka irrespective of their length of stay.
2. Diplomatic
personnel.
3. Crews
of ships and aircraft even if they stay for one night or more.
4.
Dependents of temporary immigrants and children
below 3 years.
In
this report the term "Visitor", "Tourist" and "Excursionist" are
used for "International Visitor", "International Tourist" and
"International Excursionist" respectively. In Sri Lanka's
tourism statistics, excursionists consist almost exclusively of
passengers on sea cruises, who come on shore for purposes of
sight-seeing, shopping, etc. while the ship is in harbour.
(b)
Tourist Arrivals:
Every single visit (or entry) of a tourist to the country either
in the course of the same trip or in the course of different
trips is counted as an arrival, provided the visit (or entry)
lasts at least one night in the country (N.B. those who do not
cross the frontiers are not regarded as visitors).
(c)
Tourist Night:
A night
spent in Sri Lanka by a tourist in any type of immobile
accommodation.
(d)
Guest
Night:
A
night spent in a Turist Hotel, Resthouse or Guesthouse approved
by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, as being suitable for occupation
by foreign visitors.
(e) Tourist
Hotels:
All Tourist Hotels which are reckoned to be upto international
standards of operation.
(f) Supplementary
Accomodation :
All Guest Houses, Resthouses, Inns, Youth Hotels etc., which are
approved by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, as being suitable for
occupation by foreign visitors.
(g)
Official Receipts:
Official Receipts
constitute the foreign exchange purchases and acceptances by
authorized dealers and commercial Banks from foreign visitors
either directly or indirectly.
