‘Extensive’ promotions to attract 1.5 m tourists 

• Campaigns, roadshows planned in India, France, Russia, Japan, Korea
• Target might be surpassed in 2023: SLTPB 

In a bid to surpass 1.5 million tourist arrivals in 2023, the Ministry of Tourism has revealed plans to introduce an extensive Business-to-Business (B2B) tourism promotional campaign as well as a mid-term Business-to-Consumer (B2C) communication plan. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu stated that their realistic target for 2023 was 1.5 million tourist arrivals. However, he revealed that this target may be surpassed based on the success of their promotional activities. 

He stated that the SLTPB was currently planning a comprehensive B2B promotional campaign targeting several key markets for 2023 and a mid-term B2C communication plan. 

Gajabahu noted that the promotional activities considered under the B2B campaign would include roadshows in India covering Chennai, Kochchi, and Bangalore and also included promoting Sri Lanka at the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) trade show in March 2023 in Berlin.

“There might be a small opportunity in France as well in February 2023 but that is not confirmed. We are also looking at Russia, Japan, and Korea and there is potential opening up in China as well. Those are the key markets we are looking at right now,” he revealed.

He further stated: “We have been invited to market Sri Lanka in Australia during the first quarter. Furthermore, a Russian tourism and investment delegation met the President, the Minister of Tourism, and myself to discuss the promotion of Sri Lanka. Our target is 1.5 million tourists for 2023, but the way things are going we might surpass that target.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando told The Sunday Morning Business that Sri Lanka would be participating in the Fitur global tourism fair in 2023 and would also be considering participating in a tourism fair to be held in Russia.

“We are currently checking on the dates regarding when the next event in Russia will be held, but in principle, we will be participating because Russia is a key market where we should have a presence,” explained Fernando.  

Source: https://www.themorning.lk/extensive-promotions-to-attract-1-5-m-tourists/