- WTM to take place in London in November
- Three SL road shows in India this month
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is expected to ramp up its promotion drive leading up to the year-end festive season, with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and around 50-70 private sector stakeholders from the local tourism industry scheduled to take part in the World Travel Market (WTM), which will take place at London’s ExCeL from 7-9 November 2022.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, SLTDA Chairman stated that over the coming months the SLTDA would be implementing several tourism promotion campaigns, which included three road shows in India between 26-28 September 2022.
Furthermore, the SLTPB will also be participating in the World Travel Market in November 2022 together with 50-70 travel agents, hoteliers, and other private sector stakeholders of the local tourism industry.
He further stated: “Due to the current economic crisis, we will have to look at cost-effective ways of promoting Sri Lankan tourism going forward in order to ensure that every US Dollar that goes into promotion generates a return on investment. All previously-passed tourism promotion plans will be reviewed. We will be participating in and carrying out promotions where required.”
He also claimed that the recently-drafted National Tourism Policy would be presented to the Cabinet and Parliament by the end of this month for approval, after which it would be gazetted.
Commenting on the target of one million tourists in 2022 set by Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, the SLTDA Chairman stated that they were currently on track to meet the target and were highly confident that they would achieve it by the end of the year. According to statistics published by SLTDA, as of end August, 496,430 tourists had visited Sri Lanka during 2022.
WTM is an international travel event where travel professionals come together to connect and hear about how leading companies have reshaped their businesses and to provide data insights into trending destinations and products. It is an event where the biggest names in tourism, accommodation, and hospitality meet, unlocking business opportunities for inbound and outbound tourism professionals.
With consumer behavior and booking patterns now changing in the aftermath of Covid-19, the upcoming 43rd edition of WTM London will be showcasing how the industry has evolved and reshaped itself over the last two years to meet the demands of the new consumer market.
Source: https://www.themorning.lk/sltda-gears-up-for-world-travel-market/
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko