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| Monday, 08 November 2004 |
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from Chandani Jayatilleke in London Sri Lanka's tourism industry has made elaborate plans to usher its new tourism concepts to new heights here at the largest tourism event - World Travel Mart (WTM) at the ExCel London Docklands. Sri Lanka makes a distinctive presentation with its largest contingent ever to participate in a WTM, numbering nearly 60 companies. Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike will be the chief guest of the opening ceremony of the Sri Lankan booth. The WTM celebrates its 25th year anniversary this year, with 5,000 exhibitors covering over 190 countries. While the main show is scheduled to open today the Sri Lanka booth with 60 leisure industry representatives would be the cynosure of all eyes with its diverse and multi faceted concept combined with Sri Lanka tea, food and cricket, in addition to its beyond the beach concept plus culture, nature and adventure. The Sri Lanka booth has been made according to the Yapahuwa structure, giving visitors an idea of the island's many historical sites. The best of Sri Lankan human talent in the areas of cricket, tea, food and culture including renowned chef Pubilis, star cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan and the Channa-Upuli dance troupe have been specially flown to London. Muralitharan will be the star of the Sri Lanka booth on the opening day and a competition has been organised to present a cricket bat signed by the cricketer to the winner of this competition. In another competition, the winner will be awarded a piece of jewellery with genuine Sri Lankan gemstones. Internationally renowned Sri Lanka tea brand Dilma will serve tea of different flavours to visitors of the Sri Lanka booth. Chef Pubilis will be in-charge of the Sri Lanka Food Festival to be held in London's Grand Holborn Hotel from November 7 to 11. Pubilis will make a variety of Sri Lanka's mouth-watering food and conduct cooking demonstrations during this festival to popularise local food among visitors. The number of Europeans opting for spicy food and hot curries has been on the increase in Europe over the last few years, sources said. The Channa-Upuli troupe will be another attraction with traditional drummers and dancers performing on the Yapahuwa steps. Sri Lanka will also launch a Tourism Consumer Brochure and several travel industry brochures providing its various tourism attractions and travel packages such as wedding plans and eco tourism concepts on the opening day. According to travel agents here, Europeans love exotic wedding plans and many fly to Sri Lanka with their families to conduct their wedding ceremonies amidst drummers and elephants. Sri Lanka will also appreciate the vast contributions made by travel agents here to popularise Sri Lanka as a safe destination and which have brought large number of tourists to the country at a colourful awards ceremony on Tuesday. WTM organisers have put out an excellent plan to offer visitors a range of opportunities to identify new markets, learn about latest trends and development and network and most importantly do business. The WTM celebrates its 25th year anniversary this year, with 5,000 exhibitors covering over 190 countries. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka tourism is to go through another successful winter with almost all hotels in the island being booked for the coming winter - mostly by European tourists. |
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