Colombo ranked world's fastest growing city

4 June 2015 09:51 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 72 Bookmark

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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%

Comments - 72

Lakshman De Silva Friday, 05 June 2015 08:30 AM

Thanks to the previous regime

8 41

upali Friday, 05 June 2015 10:24 AM

Well done by Gotabaya Rajapakse though the Mayor took a twist when MS came.

3 8

Janaka fonseka Friday, 05 June 2015 10:15 AM

what is the source for this news? who did the survey?

2 2

Manel Friday, 05 June 2015 09:55 AM

Yes hats off for helping to bring MY3.

7 12

Harry Friday, 05 June 2015 09:34 AM

Check your brain a,s,a,p.

2 10

Harry Friday, 05 June 2015 09:32 AM

DJ looks you were born only this year, you may have obtained your credits in the same manner [stolen!]

1 7

Harry Friday, 05 June 2015 09:29 AM

MasterCard survey has nothing to do with growth of a country.

2 7

Harry Friday, 05 June 2015 09:27 AM

dp - this survey was done by MasterCard and they have nothing to do with internal politics of any country or growth of a country.

0 13

Sangaralingham Friday, 05 June 2015 08:53 AM

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.

2 3

das Friday, 05 June 2015 10:28 AM

Make up ur mind.I thought we were experiencing a drop in growth after MS came in?

6 8

Dee Friday, 05 June 2015 08:12 AM

Time to switch red lights on. We can stay on top forever.

1 10

Mevan Friday, 05 June 2015 07:56 AM

Normally this kind of stats are published by reputed international organisations. Looks like this company is engaged in sales promotion in Asia.

12 14

Kuda Banda Friday, 05 June 2015 07:47 AM

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.

5 39

Harry Friday, 05 June 2015 06:31 AM

hithata amaaru wagei needa?

1 31

Kannan Friday, 05 June 2015 06:26 AM

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.

37 9

mahesh Friday, 05 June 2015 06:24 AM

proud of u SL via DM Android App

1 13

simon Friday, 05 June 2015 06:00 AM

@SikuruMay be true but they are Indians ,back packers and budget travellers

13 48

Lanka Friday, 05 June 2015 04:01 AM

We better enjoy the results now because soon it will be "

1 11

dilip Friday, 05 June 2015 02:04 PM

If this regime stays in power we will be at the bottom very soon.

8 20

Patta Sunday, 06 September 2015 07:21 PM

Yes Thanks to Gota and MR regime. BecauseColombo becomes the fastest growing city in the worldCountry becomes the fastest debt country in the world

0 0

Desapriya Monday, 08 June 2015 04:20 PM

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.

1 1

Simenthi Sunday, 07 June 2015 07:15 PM

@das actually no it only keeps increasing faster. it grew 8.5% in april and 26% in May

1 2

Sikuru Sunday, 07 June 2015 03:11 PM

Tourist arrivals increased 26% last month

3 3

4 my Lanka Saturday, 06 June 2015 09:03 AM

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

1 4

Harry Saturday, 06 June 2015 08:42 AM

Pretty sure you do not know who your parents are?

1 4

bandara Qatara Friday, 05 June 2015 02:54 PM

thanks for pracidant mahinda rajapaksaa

7 17

dilip Friday, 05 June 2015 02:07 PM

Kuda BandaVery honest answer, thanks

2 12

Lanka Friday, 05 June 2015 04:01 AM

We better enjoy the results now because soon it will be "

2 20

maverick Friday, 05 June 2015 02:03 PM

@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.

12 53

Splat Friday, 05 June 2015 02:03 PM

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

11 6

Elliot Friday, 05 June 2015 12:08 PM

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.

9 5

Joey Friday, 05 June 2015 12:08 PM

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.

1 3

mountain Friday, 05 June 2015 11:30 AM

thank for india and usa to end the war . plus SF. via DM Android App

14 0

stardust Friday, 05 June 2015 10:52 AM

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.

2 4

Dillip Friday, 05 June 2015 10:39 AM

I agree. This is all artificial. People are struggling to put three meals on the table. Poverty is at an all time high.

12 0

das Friday, 05 June 2015 10:29 AM

Yes, for leaving and making this possible.

12 14

RATHNASIRI Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:23 PM

Asiywe aschrriya paradawa Lokaye aschariya welaneda

3 59

Damien Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:53 PM

Proof of MR s right decesions

73 133

Silva Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:52 PM

Excellent ! Love you Sri Lanka !

3 62

Aruna Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:39 PM

Well done Mr. MR, what we reap today is what you sow yesterday. Unfortunately we grow nothing today.

41 113

Shane Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:34 PM

Proud to hear this.

1 75

Lawry Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:30 PM

From archaic to better? How is the growth measured. I conceed Colombo looks good.

3 49

Sahan Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:28 PM

Thank you MR!

149 214

channa Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:25 PM

All credit should go to Gota . will see what Yahapalana guys going say now

44 117

Qatar Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:24 PM

Lets accept the fact that all credit needs to be given to the previous regime.....

45 116

dp Thursday, 04 June 2015 06:12 PM

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.

94 35

patriot Thursday, 04 June 2015 05:02 PM

so must thanks to our former president, Mahinda rajapakse.

57 131

Mick Thursday, 04 June 2015 04:49 PM

Thanks to Rajapakse regime

60 133

yahapaluwa Thursday, 04 June 2015 04:48 PM

wonder how many countries went pass us in last 100 days

25 113

SG Thursday, 04 June 2015 04:39 PM

What are we gonna say now hitang?

6 69

Harry Thursday, 04 June 2015 04:28 PM

What ever said

8 34

SriLankan Thursday, 04 June 2015 04:27 PM

Big thank must go to the former regime and Gotabhya specially.

90 157

Push Thursday, 04 June 2015 04:21 PM

Some good news after a while. Hoping to hear many more.

2 68

Sharon Thursday, 04 June 2015 04:01 PM

Hats off to MR.................

103 141

Frankly Frank Thursday, 04 June 2015 08:56 PM

Dear Gota, Please accept the nations thanks !

34 83

Martini Friday, 05 June 2015 01:53 AM

OMG Tokyo still growing...

1 7

namal Friday, 05 June 2015 12:07 AM

Honest Government brings good to country GOOD OVERSEAS REPUTATION more Tourists

30 71

Bubble Banda Thursday, 04 June 2015 11:30 PM

Well done... really appreciate, this is a good start for our New Government. Thanks to MS

54 11

Horri Jimonis Thursday, 04 June 2015 11:29 PM

Thanks to our New Government. Wish this good Governance will continue. Sorry for MR...

56 11

Desmond Jeromme Thursday, 04 June 2015 11:27 PM

All the credit should go to our Hon. President

39 9

Ach-cha-ru Thursday, 04 June 2015 10:45 PM

nikan dunna assayage duth galawanna yanna epa via DM Android App

0 0

Samitha Thursday, 04 June 2015 09:52 PM

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

27 14

Damien Thursday, 04 June 2015 08:57 PM

I think the Yahapalana clan will understand your logic

7 38

vasu Thursday, 04 June 2015 03:27 PM

At last, hearing a good news from our country...

17 170

Neomal Thursday, 04 June 2015 08:00 PM

The ranking is based only on (1) total international visitors (2) their cross border spending. This is not the real growth for the country.

49 39

Jesse Thursday, 04 June 2015 07:51 PM

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.

29 85

Sri Lankan Thursday, 04 June 2015 07:36 PM

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!!!

3 31

John. R Thursday, 04 June 2015 07:33 PM

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.

35 28

Jimbo Thursday, 04 June 2015 07:07 PM

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.

1 27

Esala Thursday, 04 June 2015 07:05 PM

After this year again we are in end of the list with yahapalane if there is no election.

17 70

Sikuru Thursday, 04 June 2015 06:48 PM

@Sahan Look at the statistics, when the new government came tourist arrivals skyrocketed as SL is no longer ruled by a rouge regime

156 134

sss Thursday, 04 June 2015 06:16 PM

Taking resources from provinces giving garbage in return to privinces

41 20

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