In the backdrop of Sri Lanka Tourism crossing the $1.6 billion dollars in revenue as at end July 2015, the Scandinavian market has catapulted by 31.9% clocking in 30,825 visitors making it one of the best recipients post the government change in January 8, said Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Dr. Rohantha Athukorala.

With the upward trend in Norway, Denmark and Sweden Sri Lanka Tourism has launched focused marketing activations mainly online via direct mail, film based marketing and digital tweaks whilst an aggressive below the line campaign will be launched later this month, said Chairman Athukorala. Sri Lanka has chalked out a strong plan to take high ground at this year’s TUR Travel and Trade Fair 2015 to be staged in Stockholm, Sweden on the positioning, “ One Island a Thousand Treasures,” he said.

Whilst we will highlight the “ 8 wonderful experiences in 8 wonderful days – that includes beach, wild life, culture, heritage, Ayurveda, festivals and people we will use a multi pronged marketing strategy. This will include where visitors can experience Ceylon Tea in the dedicated ‘Ceylon Tea Boutique’ and the auctioning of a beautiful Ceylon sapphire in a unique private- public partnership. This will cut the Sri Lanka Pavilion away from from other competitor destination as a unique island destination with a thousand treasures, said Athukorala. It was only last week that Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau announced the “ Ceylon Tea’ theme at World a Travel Mart that will be staged in London in November. The country is registering a 16.8% visitor growth as at end July ‘ With the new advertising campaign that will hit the market place later during the year Sri Lanka Tourism will once again get back the lost glory, added Athukorala.

Denmark is the lead source market recording a visitor arrivals of 10,334 at a growth of 34.5% followed by Sweden with 9,506 travellers at +26.4% whilst Norway and Finland also has registered doubled digit growth which explains the new opportunity for Sri lanka, said SLTPB in the communique. The 2015 edition of the Sri Lanka’s thrust of the Scandinavian market will include a road show where top sixty Scandinavian destination marketing companies( DMC’s) will follow a country presentation which will profile the country highlighting the new products that will explain changing tourism landscape in the last four years, he said.

Ceylon Blue Sapphire worn by Celine Dion winner of 12 world music awards, five Grammy Awards and seven American music awards.