World Travel Market kicks off tomorrow

The World Travel Market (WTM), kicks off tomorrow at the ExCel Exhibition Centre here in East London.

WTM is a four day mega market for the travel and hospitality industry, attracting more than 5500 exhibitors from over 200 countries, creating unparalleled opportunities for buyers and sellers to identify new markets and learn about the latest trends and developments.

Sri Lanka will participate at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London at a crucial time when Sri Lankan Tourism is pinning hopes on a new thrust in the peace process, to woo tourists. Forty-seven private sector companies including 25 travel agencies and 22 hotels are registered with Sri Lanka Tourist Board to participate of this year’s WTM. According to the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, the authorities are doing their best to grab this opportunity to boost the correct image of the country and get the maximum benefit out of this.

“The private sector plays a major role in image boosting at this 'world platform' and the government is ready to help in whatever way it can to correct the picture, to regain winter traffic,” said Udaya Nanayakkara, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. As this is the largest fair in the UK and the second largest in the world, it has direct and indirect effects in generating positive results in this market. According to Sri Lanka Tourism, the total expenditure last year for Sri Lanka at the WTM was Rs. 37 million (British Pounds 200,000) while this year’s budget is Rs. 42 million (BP 210,000) which includes an eight page supplement in the UK newspapers costing Rs 4.8 million (BP 24,000).

“The SLTB UK will endeavour to make further savings and keep costs to a maximum of Rs. 40 million which means an expenditure of Rs. 32 million after the trade contribution which has remained at Rs. 8 million,” explained M. B. Kiriella, Director Marketing, Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

'Sri Lanka's recovery from the tsunami has impressed the British consumer but he still needs to be convinced (towards visiting Sri Lanka). With more than 60% of business from the UK still through tour operators, it is imperative that Sri Lanka Tourism focuses on WTM to maximize exposure to the destination,” he added. WTM is also the platform for most countries to portray the unique features of their respective cultures, which are major tourist attractions. The 'Makara Thorana', the West doorway of the Dalada Maligawa, will be the attraction at the entrance to the Sri Lanka Pavilion this year. A replica of the stairway in Yapahuwa and Watadage were the attractions in 2004 and 2005, respectively at the Sri Lanka Pavilions at WTM.

WTM 2005 was attended by 48,211 travel industry professionals representing 202 countries and regions. “To be fair by all the industry members, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board usually subsidizes the industry’s participation fee whilst absorbing the major costs to the Board. Hence the cost incurred by the Board is high,” Kiriella said.