Beauty in wildlife: Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Tourism concluded its Tourism Networking Event at Shangri-La Delhi on 20 February 2024 with the announcment that the 3rd MICE Expo will be scheduled sometime in May 2024. The networking event in Delhi followed its networking showcase in Mumbai at Sofitel BKC.
The India visit highlighted Sri Lanka's exponential tourism growth and fostered collaboration with industry leaders, whilst stakeholders took the opportunity to express gratitude for India's support, whilst outlining ambitious targets for 2024.
Galle Fort on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka.Key tourism highlights:
- Increase in Indian visitors: Sri Lanka anticipates a surge in Indian visitors, with numbers expected to more than double from January last year to January 2024, reaching 34,399.
- Tourism earnings: Sri Lanka's tourism earnings are on a steady rise, projected to surpass US$2 billion in 2023, reflecting the resilience and growth of Sri Lanka's tourism industry.
- Importance of bilateral relations: HE Kshenuka Senewiratne, The High Commissioner, High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, will shed light on the crucial role of people-to-people connectivity in strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India.
- Focus on sustainability and cultural heritage: future plans include a strong emphasis on sustainable tourism practices and the preservation of cultural heritage sites. Sri Lanka remains dedicated to maintaining its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage for generations to come.
- Connectivity: With 95 flights linking Sri Lanka to nine Indian cities, travel between the two nations is increasingly accessible.
- Shopping via UPI: Moreover, with the recent launch of India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in Sri Lanka, transactions have become more seamless for travellers.