Sri Lanka Tourism has scored three double centuries in arrivals in December, January and February attracting over 200,000 guests each month, Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTBP) said.
He said that this healthy trend is expected to continue and Sri Lanka from 1.49 million arrivals in 2023 will reach over 2.3 million arrivals in 2024 at the launch of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) organized 11th edition of the ‘Sancharaka Udawa 2024’ l event yesterday at Sheraton Colombo.
The event will be held on May 17and 18 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Hall at BMICH.
He also said that the 12 year master plan for tourism was approved by the Cabinet which means that even if there is any government change the tourism sector plans would remain intact. He also said that they are currently witnessing an average spend of around USD 160 per day by tourists minus the charges they pay for cultural sites and the plan is to increase it to around USD 400 to 500 by end 2029.
Gajabahu said that since 2022 June Sri Lanka Tourism has made a great comeback and even small hotels are reaping the benefits from it. Today there are over 250 small boutique hotels with around two to three hotels in each and they too have maintained around 80% occupancy and are selling a room at around USD 300 plus per day.
He said that Sri Lanka also successfully hosted a very productive and entertaining 31st night which went on till 6 a.m. in contrast to other countries (Malaysia and Singapore) 31st night which ended around 1 a.m.
“The aim of the exhibition is to establish a networking platform for small and medium-sized service providers within the industry, facilitating connections with tour operators and facilitating their integration into the broader tourism landscape, “ said Secretary, SLAITO and Chairman, Sancharaka Udawa Charith De Alwis.
Last year’s Sancharaka Udawa 2023 saw sponsorships from companies such as Aitken Spence Travels, Classic Sri Lanka, Walkers Tours, Adhitya Ayurveda,and Araliya Resort and Spa.
The upcoming event will feature engaging sessions aimed at both trade visitors and the general public, ensuring maximum value.
A robust marketing campaign is underway to ensure the success of Sancharaka Udawa 2024, with event management entrusted to CDC Events & Aitken Spence Conventions & Exhibitions by SLAITO.
Sancharaka Udawa anticipates over 250 exhibitors and welcomes a footfall exceeding 10,000 visitors. The anticipated outcome includes a significant surge in bookings for regional small-scale tourism service providers.
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