altered system. The number of deceased (eight) included only those whose formal identification had been confirmed by the pertinent civic authorities. The number of missing (then eighty) thus included some people whose bodies had been identified by relatives or friends, but not yet by the authorities. History Thailand has been a Norwegian tourist destination of great popularity for many years. In recent years, more and more Norwegians have also started to celebrate Christmas in the warmth of the south Asian weather, instead of celebrating at home, where the weather can be rough, with temperatures far below zero degrees Celsius as well as snow. In light of these facts, the impact of the catastrophe has a large psychological and personal impact on the small nation. In Sri Lanka, there are reports of three Norwegians dead, one of them a Norwegian citizen born in the Tamil part of the country and doing volunteer work at an orphanage in her town of birth. The tradition of vacationing there is much more limited than Thailand. The Norwegian Embassy was in a state of emergency following the disaster. Impact This disaster exerted significant psychological impact everywhere in the world. Tourism is South-East Asia's biggest export and it was disrupted considerably. However, it is making a comeback with more and more tourists visiting each year. A memorial for the victims of the tsunami catastrophe of 26 December 2004 was initiated by the Norwegian government. The memorial is meant to be a dignified place for reflection and contemplation for all people affected by catastrophes. The sculpture by John Audun Hauges entitled Interferens is located on the western shore of Bygdøy in Oslo. It was officially unveiled by HM King Harald V of Norway on 19 October 2007. References External links The military to fly home injured Tour operators have trouble reaching guests Updated page for practical information Stories from people travelling home without loved ones 2-year old boy still missing Norway 2004 in Norway