Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased by 48.4% during the first half of 2010 (January-June), with a total of 278,652 arrivals to the country in comparison to 187,729 arrivals during the same period last year (2009).<br/><br/>The number of arrivals for the month of June 2010 was recorded as 44,730, which was an increase of 47.9%. In June 2009, the number was 30,234, according to the latest figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.<br/><br/>Figures showed an increase in the number of arrivals from South Asia, Western Europe, East Asia, North America, Australasia, Middle East, North America and Eastern Europe in the first half of 2010.