Pictures by Nimal Navaratne & Rohan Herath - www.rohanherath.co.uk
Video by Tissa Madawala

This week saw the world visit the Excel centre in London for the 32^nd World Travel Market; the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend four-day business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Sri Lanka Tourism participated in conjunction with 49 Sri Lankan companies representing the Travel, hotel and hospitality industry, to communicate the key messages for tourism on the island in 2012 and beyond.

The opening ceremony was held on the Sri Lanka pavilion on the Monday morning, and was declared open by HE Dr. Chris Nonis High Commissioner for the UK. The lighting of the oil lamp ceremony was also graced by Miss Sri Lanka – Ms Pushpika De Silva who attended the show to promote the destination.

Being a key driver in tourism trend setting, the WTM Industry Travel report for 2012 cited Sri Lanka as one of the next five emerging countries for Travel and Tourism, in what is being known as the SLIMMA countries thought to potentially follow the BRIC states. In conjunction with Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina, Sri Lanka was widely publicised during the event as being a destination with the potential to be a leading player in years to come. Reasons cited included the re-emerging industry since the end of the civil conflict, the investment in infrastructure and the overall beauty of the island.

During WTM, Sri Lanka Tourism sponsored the annual PATA dinner at the House of Commons in the presence of HE Dr. Chris Nonis, High Commissioner for the UK and hosted by Minister of Parliament Andrew Rosindell. This event was graced by distinguished travel journalists and travel industry leaders from both UK and Sri Lanka.

With several key messages including the launch of the Sri Lanka Homestays, updating the media on the visa process (ETA), and the five year strategy for development, SLTB hosted a select number of journalists from the consumer and trade media. During the Monday afternoon press briefing, the delegation was address by HE Dr. Chris Nonis, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Chairman Sri Lanka Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, CEO Sri Lankan Airlines and Sanjika Perera, Director SLTB UK and Ireland.

Sri Lanka Tourism in conjunction with Sri Lankan Airlines also hosted a cocktail reception evening for the UK travel trade to network with Sri Lankan trade representatives, attended by Deputy High Commission UK, Mr P Amza. The successful evening was peppered with Sri Lankan themes and provided a further opportunity for business & networking to be conducted outside of the venue.

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Sri Lanka Tourism in conjunction with Sri Lankan Airlines hosted a cocktail reception evening for the UK travel trade to network with Sri Lankan trade representatives, attended by Deputy High Commission UK, Mr P Amza.

SESATHA - The Sri Lankan Event Portal in UK