Sri Lanka Tourism attends virtual ‘ANTOR meets the media’

Sri Lanka Tourism in collaboration with Sri Lanka High Commission in the UK participated in a virtual media networking session recently. It was organised by the Association of National Tourist Offices and Representatives (ANTOR) which is a voluntary nonpolitical organization established in the UK in 1952. ANTOR’s members comprise national and regional tourist offices which are represented in the United Kingdom.

“ANTOR meets the media” is an event which has been hosting 100 plus media in a workshop format in London for the past 30 years. This year the event was in virtual format which has provided them the opportunity to widen their net of guests, inviting travel media from the UK to meet the members virtually face to face. Appointments were also made ahead of time with the media, sanctioning 20 minutes for each event, enabling a multiple number of media meetings within an approximate 6-hour long invaluable time span.

Participation at this event enabled Sri Lanka to approach the travel media directly. It provided the opportunity to create awareness on Sri Lanka’s extent of safety measures set apart in preparation for tourist arrivals once the country reopens to welcome travelers. It endorsed the significance of safety and concern, enough to retain Destination Sri Lanka on top of the mind of travellers.

Leading journal publishing houses such as Travel Bulletin, Green Traveler Productions, Wanderlust, BMI Publishing, Selling Travel, TTG media and Culture Trip etc. were in attendance at the Sri Lanka Virtual stand showing a deep interest in getting an update on the current situation in the island.

The event began with a media briefing on Sri Lanka Tourism with the participation of the Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism, Kimarli Fernado and Sri Lanka High Commissioner for UK, Saroja Sirisena.

During the meeting Chairperson highlighted, the success story of how Sri Lanka dynamically managed to control coronavirus pandemic through strategically planned safety measures and pointed out latest updates on the current pandemic situation. She enlarged on the protocols to be implemented ensuring the safety of both the islanders and the visitors arriving in Sri Lanka, the moment the airport gates open for tourist inflow. 

Speaking at the meeting, the High Commissioner elaborated on the significance of the UK market to Sri Lanka Tourism and the deep interest and affinity felt by the British tourists towards Sri Lanka. High Commissioner further laid weight on the role, UK media could play in promoting Sri Lanka in the UK market in a bid to revive tourism industry.