The trade were thanked for supporting Sri Lanka and helping boost UK visitor numbers at an event celebrating the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations on Tuesday.
The Sri Lankan High Commission, Sri Lankan Airlines and Sri Lanka Tourism invited members of the trade to the event at the Sri Lanka High Commission.
It was hosted by Sanjika Perera, Sri Lanka Tourism UK director, who said UK arrivals were up 34% year-on-year for the first quarter of 2010, with overall visitor numbers up 50% during the same period.
He explained that marketing activities between January to March, increased media exposure, and TV programmes feauturing Rick Stein and Robson Green had helped gain exposure among consumers.
The Sri Lankan government formally declared an end to the 25-year civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last year.
Perera explained:"We owe a big thank you to all the British tour operators and media who have supported us over the years, during and after the tsunami, the airport incidents, and recent turbulent times.
"Your resilient support and encouragement has helped to maintain the UK as the most important destination and the largest source market for Sri Lanka tourism."
Sri Lanka Tourism UK and Ireland marketing manager Nabeel Shariff added: "Teaming with TTG we will travel around the UK with their roadshows, meeting agents and promoting Sri Lanka with an added incentive and vigour now possible due to the revitalised future.”
Source: Ttglive
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