Sri Lanka Tourism to take tea theme at World Travel Mart London 2015

• Arrivals from UK cross 93,000 at 12.6% growth 

The most beautiful scenery of Sri Lanka is in the hill country where tea is planted

“The leading travel industry event staged annually in London, World Travel Mart that attracts around 50,000 tourism professionals which recorded $244 million for the British economy and deal making at $2.5 billion dollars plus globally, Sri Lanka Tourism together with the private sector will be making a strong statement given the 16.8% cumulative growth and 31.2% growth in visitor arrivals in July,” said Dr. Rohantha Athukorala. 

“Sri Lanka Tourism Pavilion taking a cutting edge position of a tea theme that will include the launch of Loolkadura, where the first tea bush was planted by James Taylor and Dabatenna estate of Lipton fame will be announced as World Heritage Site submissions for UNESCO certification apart from showcasing the eight wonderful experiences in eight wonderful days,” he said.

“The Guinness Record bid of plucking 1000kg by amateurs in Nuwara Eliya and serving 35,000 cups of tea at the Esala Perahera in partnership between SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Tea Board and APOT will add to the statement we will make from the Sri Lanka Tourism Pavilion,” said Market Head for UK Chameera Peiris. 

“Given the strong imagery of Ceylon Tea associated with a typical Britisher, this cutting edge theme will help attract guests from royalty and chairmen of top global tea houses that will set the stage for the leading tour operators and destination marketing companies to come to our pavilion,” he said. 

“We must find creative ways to make Sri Lanka Tourism cut through the aggressive competition apart from the beaches that we are known for as we are up against stiff completion given that a typical British traveler searches on Google for island nations like North Attol Male, Seychelles as per the latest consumer insights of Trip Advisor. We must attract the top spending potential British traveller as even now almost 22% of the revenue from tourism come from UK,” said Peiris. 

“As at July Sri Lanka has attracted 93,223 visitors at a growth of 12.6% and we are targeting 200,000 guests which accounts for higher revenue per traveller than any other destination,” he said. 

Sri Lanka Tourism took a wildlife theme at the Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) this year in Dubai and a Festival –Esala Perahera theme at KOTFA – Seoul, Korea. 

The last edition of WTM recorded 51,500 participants with business deals worth more than £2.5 billion triggered by the event whilst £244,340,223 million has been pumped into the economy through money spent on hotels, restaurants, flights and other discretionary spend by those visiting England’s capital city which beats the acclaimed London Fashion Week, a Tourism Promotions Bureau communique stated.

“The British Fashion Council’s London Fashion Week generates around £100 million for the London economy while hosting of seven games at the Rugby World Cup will generate £316 million to the economy. WTM – London will showcase around 200 countries and 5,000 exhibitors which indicates the entrenched competition that exists in the market so we must find unique ways to bring out the DNA of the country – diversity, authenticity and compactness,” said Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Dr. Athukorala.