Sri Lanka named Asia’s Leading Destination at World Travel Awards

COLOMBO, July 13 (Xinhua) — Sri Lanka was named Asia‘s Leading Destination and Asia‘s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination at the recent World Travel Awards Ceremony held in the Maldives, the tourism ministry said in a statement here Thursday.

Tourism Minister, John Amaratunga said these awards were important milestones in Sri Lanka’s tourism promotional efforts.

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has seen a mega growth following the end of the island’s bitter civil conflict between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels which ended in May 2009.

Amaratunga said securing the two top accolades at the World Travel Awards Ceremony will continue to draw the spotlight on destination Sri Lanka.

“The awards have confirmed Sri Lanka’s preeminent position as Asia‘s Leading Destination while also consolidating its newly acquired status of Asia‘s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination,” he said.

Meanwhile, following an invitation extended by Sri Lanka Tourism, World Travel Awards Executive Committee has agreed to explore the possibility of hosting the World Travel Awards ceremony in Sri Lanka in 2019.

Sri Lanka Tourism also used the opportunity to showcase the island’s tourism attractions through a video presentation to the high profile audience representing the region’s leading destinations.

Among the attendees at the awards event this year were Chairman and Founder of World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke and Minister of Tourism in Maldives, Hussain Lirar.

Many Sri Lankan hotels, airlines and travel companies also won various awards at the event including Sri Lanka’s national airline carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines which was selected as Asia‘s Leading Airline in the Indian Ocean and Asia‘s Leading Cultural Airline.