WTM 2022: Sri Lanka aims to dispel misconceptions
Sri Lanka is back and running. That’s the message from tourism minister Harin Fernando at WTM London this year as the country gears up to exceed its pre-pandemic tourism arrivals by the end of 2024, despite the recent political upheaval.
Fernando told TTG@WTM the destination expected at least 850,000 international arrivals by the end of 2022, with an aim of reaching 1.5 million in 2023, doubling to three million the following year.
After India, the UK is the second-most important source market for the destination.
More than 80 resorts and tour operators promoting the country are exhibiting at WTM London this year.
“We’re here to show that Sri Lanka is back and running and that not everything you hear on the news is actually the truth,” Fernando explained. “It’s our duty to participate in these events and make sure we clear Sri Lanka’s name.
“We have lots of new hotels being built in Sri Lanka that didn’t open due to Covid, including four new Hilton hotels in 2023.”
The minister said the country was introducing activities including ballooning, skydiving and bungee jumping to appeal to more adventurous travellers.
Chalaka Gajabahu, chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, added the country was also working to attract more luxury tourists by improving infrastructure and transportation to ensure quicker internal travel.
The destination is currently promoting football-related stays around the Fifa World Cup, and is planning to launch a real-time app offering access to “everything Sri Lanka” from January 2023.
Fernando claimed Sri Lanka had stabilised after its recent upheaval, and insisted there were no longer issues with food and fuel supplies.
“Sri Lanka has been through a financial crisis as well as a political crisis, but we have been working with the IMF [International Monetary Fund] and by middle-2023 the financial crisis will have settled down,” he said. “The dollar is stabilising.”
The Foreign Office relaxed its advice not to travel to Sri Lanka in August this year.
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