Harin says Lanka ready to welcome tourists in coming winter season

Tourism Minister Harin Fernando has assured the UK travel industry that the government was taking steps to overcome the current difficulties. Addressing senior British representatives, Minister Fernando has also highlighted the investment opportunities in the Sri Lankan hospitality and tourism sector.

The Foreign Ministry quoted Minister Fernando as having said that Sri Lanka would be ready to welcome tourists during the winter holiday season this year as groundwork was being undertaken as per the contingency plan prepared by the Tourism Ministry.

The following is the text of the statement: Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando who was in London recently met the UK travel industry on 16 June 2022 at the High Commission of Sri Lanka. The promotional event which was organised by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, was timely in the backdrop of the removal on 11 June of the advice against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka by the UK Government. Over 60 UK travel industry leaders including tour operators, travel associations, travel media, and representatives of airlines and the hospitality sector attended the event. The UK has been the 2nd largest origin of inbound tourists to Sri Lanka.

Delivering the welcome address, High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena stated that Sri Lanka has been a resilient country which has overcome difficult situations. Sri Lanka relies on its allies’ support to promote Sri Lanka as ‘The next holiday destination’. What Sri Lanka offers is something unique that taps into the sixth sense of the traveller. Once in Sri Lanka, a traveller experiences a little bit of Sri Lankanness that they take away with them.

Minister (Commercial) of the High Commission Dr. Lakmini Mendis introduced the three special speakers of the event, , Head of Commercial at the Association of Independent Tour Operators in the UK (AITO) Bharat Gadhoke, Founder Editor of the Wanderlust Magazine Lynn Hughes, and Vice President Experience of Lonely Planet Tom Hall.

Bharat Gadhoke stated that specialist travellers consider unique countries like Sri Lanka to visit, as there is an extensive list of activities a traveller can engage in. He assured that the AITO stands ready to promote Sri Lanka among the UK travellers as done in the past. Lynn Hughes explained that Wanderlust Magazine has been considering Sri Lanka as one of the most popular destinations among their readership since the start of the magazine and it was proven by last year’s Wanderlust Awards where Sri Lanka was selected as one of the top 10 destinations of travellers’ choice.