Tourist arrivals grow:
Belgium relaxes travel advisory
Belgian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have increased by 108.2 percent
in the first 11 months of 2010 over that of the previous year, compared
to a Western European average of 50.5 percent and an overall increase of
45.7 percent in the corresponding period.
The increase in tourist arrivals from Belgium in November 2010 alone,
over that of November 2009 was a staggering 290.5 percent.
Belgium also relaxed its travel advisory this month deleting a
reference in its September 2010 travel advisory which stated “given the
security situation, all travelling to North and East of Sri Lanka not
recommended”.
The impact of these developments were amply demonstrated from the
attention Sri Lanka received at the 2010 Brussels Travel Expo (BT Expo)
which was held in Brussels this month.
BT Expo, the largest business to business tourism promotional event
in the Belgium calendar was attended by more than 250 exhibitors. The
event dedicated to the travel industry in Europe, attracted upto 4,000
trade visitors - including leading professionals from destination
management companies, hotels and convention bureaus, as well as leading
travel and business journalists.
Addressing over 50 journalists at a media event titled ‘Sri Lanka -
Back in Business’, held at the centre of the BT Expo pavilion, Sri
Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU, Ravinatha
Aryasinha said, “in less than one year since Sri Lanka got back on the
Belgian travel catalogues and only a month since a direct weekly flight
was launched, Belgium was clearly accelerating to where it left off in
Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals table, prior to terrorism affecting the
country”. He said the representatives from over 40 Belgian companies who
visited Sri Lanka in November, some of whom were present on the occasion
to share their experiences, would testify to the fact that the country
is back in business and in no sector was it more visible than in the
tourism sector. Noting that traditionally Belgian visitors to Sri Lanka
were also high spenders and demanded quality, the Ambassador assured
that the rejuvenated travel sector in Sri Lanka is well geared to meet
their demands.
Second Secretary (Political) Madhuka Wickramarachchi, who is also
responsible for the tourism coordination work of the Embassy, outlined
Sri Lanka Tourism’s new branding strategy for 2011 - the ‘Visit Sri
Lanka Year’ and future prospects in the tourism sector both for visits
as well as for investment. Economic and Commercial Minister R D S
Kumararatne briefed the audience on the Embassy’s overall economic
promotion plan for 2011, including a multi-faceted ‘Sri Lanka Business
Week’ in May.
Hans Vanhaelemeesch, spokesperson of Jetair, said “bookings to Sri
Lanka were very positive”, “a lot of investment and a lot of effort has
been made by the authorities to promote tourism”, and “I feel that there
is a bright future for Sri Lanka as a holiday destination among other
countries”. Baptiste van Outryve, Cooperate Communications Manager of
Thomas Cook said “As a tour operator, we strongly believe in Sri Lanka,
not only as a coastal destination but also as a destination, which
combines its culture and heritage. We go to Sri Lanka to stay in Sri
Lanka and to enjoy the country”. Mahen Kariyawasam of Andrews Travels
said “the Belgium tourist market is growing dramatically” and thanked
the tour operators “for their unstinted support in both good and bad
times”. He also said “Belgians travel in all seasons to Sri Lanka and
they spend more money than most Europeans”. Robrecht Willart, Hony
Director for Sri Lanka Tourism in Belgium was the host of the event,
which was followed by a reception where Sri Lankan ‘kevili’ and tea was
served. |