Sri Lanka tourism left an indelible mark at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2024, the leading global event of travel and tourism trade held at the ExCel Exhibition Hall, London, UK, from November 5 to 7. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) with the support of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London participated in the event, along with over 100 industry partners.
Sri Lanka stand was declared open on November 5 by Duchess of Rutland Emma Manners. She was joined by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK Rohitha Bogollagama, Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, Lord Naseby, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council Lord Marland, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Buddhika Hewawasam, other officials of Sri Lanka Tourism, and guests representing the UK travel trade.
Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam conducted a series of B2B meetings with leading UK travel companies, associations, and travel media during the three days of the WTM. A press conference for the UK mainstream and travel media was organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism on November 6 at the exhibition venue. The high-profile event was attended by over 84 leading UK travel and media outlets and travel influencers.
The Sri Lanka stand at the WTM won the award for the Best Stand for Doing Business for its corporate and welcoming atmosphere which offered plenty of space to do business in. Further enhancing Sri Lanka’s presence at the WTM, the country simultaneously received the Gold Award for the ‘Most Desirable Island’ at the Wanderlust Travel Magazine Awards held on November 6 in London.
Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka in October 2024 were recorded at 1.6 million with a revenue of US$ 2.5 billion, marking a significant milestone in the country’s tourism sector, despite numerous challenges it endured in the recent past. The United Kingdom is the second source of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka with 146,670 tourists up to October 31.
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