Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Rohitha Bogollagama, revealed lofty ambitions for international visitation and elaborated on the three pillars that maintain Brits' place among the roster of key source markets for the nation at WTM 2024
Bogollagama described the UK as "a partner for greater progress," noting his happiness with how the UK has responded to the post-pandemic call to tourism action.
Three facets underpin the importance of the UK to Sri Lanka; a traditional connection with the nation, Sri Lanka's place as a "known product" to Brits who have been working, earning and living there for the last quarter of a millennium, and the "mutual benefit" that British tourism adds to Sri Lanka.
That last pillar, the High Commissioner explained, is perhaps the most important to Sri Lanka's success. "UK tourists are high spenders and their per-capita gain is much higher than other markets.
"These three things combined with the efforts of successful governments in Sri Lanka to maintain the tourism sector has borne low-hanging fruit that we can easily pick and we have nurtured to be a sustainable market for our tourism industry."
The destination expects to see further mutual benefit from such a response, anticipating around two million visitors in 2024 before going on to double that figure by 2030.
Noting the strong repeat visitation of British tourists, Bogollagama continued, "We have identified the confidence that tourists have in Sri Lanka, in our trusted place, a secure place, a protected place and an environmentally-conscious place.
"We inspire that needed confidence, security and enjoyment."
Fostering that visitor confidence, and combining it with the "vast variety, fluctuation from season-to-season, and flexibility," on offer across the nation has, according to the High Commissioner, fostered "significant value" for both tourists to repay them for their confidence and choice to travel to Sri Lanka.
WTM London 2024 took place at ExCel London from November 5th to 7th, 2024.
