Tour operators behind an event bringing together travel companies specialising in Sri Lanka hope to kick-start a new wave of tourism to the destination.
Specialists Support Sri Lanka is being held on July 16 in London to help get the destination back on its feet following the Easter Sunday terror attacks which led to a temporary change of Foreign Office travel advice, warning against all but essential travel.
Tour operators Experience Travel Group and Travel Gallery along with the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, representing hoteliers, are leading the event, which is being supported by The Specialist Travel Association (Aito) and the Sri Lankan High Commission in London.
Up to 150 trade – not just Aito companies – and press are expected to attend the event, which will take place after individual meetings between hoteliers and tour operators, at the Royal Over-Seas League, St James’ Street, London, from 7pm until 9pm.
Experience Travel Group founder Sam Clark, who has just returned from Sri Lanka, said: “It’s about normalising travel to Sri Lanka again. Sri Lanka is still beautiful and peaceful, with a bit more security, but it has come out of the news now.
“People have a question mark in their heads about Sri Lanka but it’s crucial to get the message out to the wider market that there is not a question mark now; it’s business as usual.”
Clark said he had been forced to warn his company’s suppliers, including hoteliers and chauffeur guides, that it would be a “tough summer” and that booking were returning very slowly to the destination. “It’s a stream not a flood,” he said.
Aito chairman Derek Moore added: “Our Aito Sri Lankan specialists have been hugely proactive in terms of getting tourism to Sri Lanka going again. It’s vital Sri Lanka’s recovery from that blow is speedy and long-lived. We believe Specialists Support Sri Lanka will help kickstart a new wave of tourism from UK travellers.
“The aim is to bring together the entire UK trade community which works with Sri Lanka and to incentivise British visitors to return to the island with all due speed.”
Hoteliers will be flying over from Sri Lanka to come to the event, due to be attended by companies in the travel trade and journalists. It comes as planning gets underway to organise a programme of personally-tailored individual press visits to Sri Lanka.
The event will include a panel of speakers to address key topics, such as updates from Sri Lanka and a question and answer session.