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by Colvin L. De Silva

Sri Lanka made a very strong impact at the World Travel Market 2001 - an international travel exhibition at the Earls Court, in West London where some 150 countries presented over 4,000 stalls for the public.

Over 45 Colombo-based Hotel and Tour operators were represented and they were on hand to deal with visitor inquiries and promote their own businesses. The tools of the trade were exploited to the fullest extent to reap the benefits from their own participation at the Exhibition in London. Our historical connections with Britain, cricket and tea were the great plus points while tropical sun, golden beaches and scenic beauty of the land, contributed in no small measure for the marketing campaign.

It was a mega show in the travel and tourism industry. Not only was the Sri Lanka stand strikingly presented, it was also professionally handled.

The Sri Lankan Tourist Board, SriLankan Airlines together with the Travel and tourism industry in Sri Lanka were determined to bounce back into business as soon as possible following the calamity that befell the industry in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11 in the United States of America.

Towards achieving this goal, Tourist Board vigourously pursued a new theme - a new concept to attract visitors to the country - "Sri Lanka-Land like no other".

Talking to the Daily News one participant Asoka Hettigoda , Managing Director of Siddalepa Ayurvedic Health Resort in Wadduwa in the South Coast, said that offering ayurvedic health care services to their clients both local and foreign helped them to stay in business during this unfavourable trading climate. He was pleased with the help and assistance received from the Tourist Board.

The Travel and Tourist trade has been seriously affected following the September events and was hopeful of early recovery, Mr. Hettigoda said.

Director Tourist Board in London, A.B. Ranjit De Silva together with SriLankan Airlines Country Manager S.A Ramachandran - two professionals in their chosen fields made Sri Lanka's participation at the World Travel Market a resounding success. They were assisted by Information Officer of the Tourist Board U.S. Pujitha Kithsiri.

Meanwhile, Kuoni, the well known travel firm was adjudged the best tour operator for Sri Lanka by the Tourist Board for the year 2001. They were duly recognised and felicitated together with 21 other tour operators at awards ceremony and a dinner at the Churchill Intercontinental Hotel in West London, recently, co-hosted by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and SriLankan Airlines, in the presence of over 200 guests from the travel and tourist trade.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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