World Travel Awards officials in Colombo to discuss hosting of grand finale

WTA Founder and President Graham Cooke (left) in conversation with State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage in Colombo. WTA Business Development Director Mike Sawicki and State Minister of Tourism, Diana Gamage Private Secretary Dr. Arosha Fernando are also present

For the first time in the entire South Asia, State Tourism Minister of Sri Lanka has won the bid to host the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2023 World Grand Finale Gala Ceremony in Colombo on 15 December with the participation of 117 Countries including all the sectors of travel ie. 

Hotels, Tour Operators, Airlines, Destinations  etc.

This was secured with a lot of effort by the State Minister, Diana Gamage and from the State Tourism Ministry of Sri Lanka.

WTA Founder and President Graham Cooke and Business Development Director Mike Sawicki arrived in Sri Lanka and met up with State Minister of Tourism, Diana Gamage, Private Secretary to State Minister Dr. Arosha Fernando and senior officials to discuss and plan out the program of the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2023 World Grand Finale Gala in Colombo on 15 December.

Cooke said: “World Travel Awards (WTA) is the travel industry’s most prestigious awards program, rewarding leaders in the tourism, airline, hotel & hospitality sectors and was established in 1993, exactly 30 years ago.”

“Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence. World Travel Awards gala ceremonies are regarded as milestone events in the travel calendar, attended by the industry’s key decision-makers, figureheads, influencers and media,” said Sawicki.

State Minister Diana Gamage said: “It is very important to notice that this global event will immensely assist to clear the bad publicity spread across the world during and after the Aragalaya where some thinks even today we are having a massive fuel shortage, riots etc., and unfortunately not considering Sri Lanka as a positive tourist destination.”

Dr. Fernando said: “As the participants of the event will witness the actual situation of the country by travelling in Colombo as well as around Sri Lanka, they will through social media ie. Instagram, Facebook etc .will update to the rest of the world the actual situation here as most of them have millions of followers.”