Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Targets Middle East Market

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has successfully concluded a press conference at Arabian Travel Market Media Center today, 23rd April, 2018 as part of their participation at Arabian Travel Market 2018 and its on-going efforts to develop new markets and increase the number of visitors and spend from the region to Sri Lanka. The press conference was attended by Hon. Minister John Amaratunga, Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism, Mr. Felix Srimal Rodrigo – Advisor to Hon. Minister, Mr. L. Madiwela – Media Secretary to Hon. Minister, Mr. Mohan De Silva – Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Charitha Yattagoda – Sri Lankan Consul General – Dubai, Mr. Sutheash Balasubramaniam – Managing Director – Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Mr. Ajantha Rathnayake, Assistant Director – Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Mr. Sasanga Gunathilaka – Assistant Director – Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Ms. Meriyan Warnakulasuriya, Management Assistant – Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and members of GCC media.

In 2017, Sri Lanka received a total of 107,635 tourists from the Middle East region with 6.5% growth with UAE as one of the fastest growing tourism market from the region. Currently there are 70 direct flight services a week connecting UAE to Sri Lanka suggesting the potential to grow and develop the market further is great, especially as travellers from the country on average have one of the highest travel spends in the world. This will result in not only return dividends for Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industries, but also for the retail industry.

Hon. Minister John Amaratunga, Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism said, “Sri Lanka has much to offer visitors from the region with our distinctive, adventure-packed, eco-friendly, family-focused experiences and offerings, as well as our rich nature, heritage and culture, year-round schedule of festivals and special events, numerous parks and eco centers, luxury resorts and wellness centres, and romantic settings for honeymooners and couples. Our mission has done much to put Sri Lanka on the map and in the hearts and minds of Middle East-based travel partners, and in combination with future promotions planned for the country and the region, I’m confident we will see many more visitors from the region making Sri Lanka their next holiday destination of choice in the coming months.”

In each of the cities visited over a hundred key outbound travel professionals attended the Sri Lanka Tourism workshops and seminars to learn more about Sri Lanka’s touristic offerings and business opportunities to promote destination Sri Lanka to their clients.

A total of fifty one (51) industry partners from Sri Lanka-based tourism and hospitality entities joined Arabian Travel Market including; Sri Lankan Airlines, Air Arabia, Aitken Spence Travels, Isra Holidays, I Am Sri Lanka, Araliya Green Hills Hotel, Asian Adventures Travel Management Company, Exotic Global Holidays, Jetwing Travels, World Travel Center Colombo, Sunways Holidays, Royal Holidays, Airwings Tours, Blackpool Hotel, BOC Travel, Ceylon Roots, Deluxe Vacations, Delmege Tours, Hamoos Travel, Helanka Vacations, Holiday Park, Karusan Travels, Let’s See Asia, Lavingo Travels, Hayley’s Tours, Riu Hotels, Movenpick Hotels, Nawamini Travels, NKAR Travels, Walkers Tours, Galle Face Hotel, Mahaweli Reach Hotel.

The press conference was successfully coordinated by AVIAREPS, the world’s leading destination marketing and promotion Company with 63 offices in 47 countries around the world.