Bumper New Year for Sri Lanka tourism

In addition another campaign launched together with a number of industry stakeholders titled “Island Escapes” was a sure win and that is also expected to provide better effect next year when the low season months roll in.

The digital campaign also kicked off, according to authorities in some of the key markets of UK, France, Germany, India and China and followed in November with the launch of the Sri Lanka branding “So Sri Lanka” at the World Travel Mart in London amid the political crisis in the country at the time.

However, the post events of the brand launch were unable to get underway and are likely to be carried out subsequently now that the situation has improved.

The industry is once again of the belief that the cancella- tions during the November and December months due to the adverse travel advisories are to take a better turn when these would soften after successful intervention by the authorities with the respective diplomatic missions.

The situation in the country is currently “slightly better,” Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators President Harith Perera said noting that the whole political turmoil did not escalate which proved well.

In fact, he noted that some hotels have said there has been a pick up from corporate houses with incentive travel on the surge.

Since last week there had been a change, he said noting that there is no news currently concerning the political turmoil as a result of which foreign tour operators and travel agents appear positive on the stability in the country. (SD)