Sri Lanka promotes wellness tourism at WTM 2019, London

The wellness pavilion at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2019 was formally inaugurated with the ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony attended by the High Commissioner of the Sri Lankan High Commission in UK, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and representatives from the participating companies of the Sri Lanka’s Wellness Tourism Industry.

Siddhalepa Ayurveda Resort (Wadduwa), Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort (Beruwala), Heritance Ayurveda Mahagedara (Beruwala), Breath of Life Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd (Sen Wellness Sanctuary) (Tangalle), Tree of Life (Pvt.) Ltd (Kandy) and Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilion (Negombo) are the six wellness companies that took part at the event to promote Sri Lanka’s wellness services with the assistance offered by the EDB.

The EDB in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in London and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau participated at the World Travel Market (WTM), from November 4 to 6, 2019, at Excel London, London, UK.

The EDB facilitated the participation for wellness sector companies in parallel to the Sri Lanka Tourism Pavilion, organised by the SLTPB.

The EDB prompted the participation of local companies at this event with the aim of developing and promoting the wellness tourism service sector exports from Sri Lanka to UK, which has been identified as one of the focused sectors in the National Export Strategy (NES). With a view to globally position this sector under the country’s branding of ‘So Sri Lanka’, and promoting it in the key target markets, UK has been identified as one of the most prospective markets in Europe with a huge potential for Sri Lanka’s wellness tourism sector.

This strategy seeks to make Sri Lanka the preferred destination for wellbeing services offered to the medical tourists. Considering the above strategic objectives, taking part in this event is a novel experience for the wellness tourism sector companies to explore the opportunities in the EU market.

The EDB is giving a prominent place for the Sri Lankan wellness tourism sector to achieve its overall goals to earn more foreign exchange revenue to the country. The EDB is also planning to organise similar programmes in other countries in future as well to explore business opportunities for the Sri Lankan wellness tourism sector along with the SLTPB and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.