Sri Lanka named Asia’s leading destination

MD, Sutheash Balasubramanium and Director Marketing Madhubani Perera with SLTPB team after winning the awards

Sri Lanka Tourism clinched two prestigious awards at the World Travel Awards Ceremony held in the Maldives last week. 

Competing among 47 countries in Asia, Sri Lanka bagged the awards for ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’ and ‘Asia’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination.’ The awards were received by Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Sutheash Balasubramanium and Director Marketing, SLTPB, Madhubani Perera. Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga noted that these awards were important milestones in Sri Lanka’s tourism promotional efforts. 

“Securing these two top accolades at the prestigious World Travel Awards Ceremony will continue to draw the spotlight on destination Sri Lanka. The awards have confirmed Sri Lanka’s pre-eminent 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 gala 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 gala event were Chairman and Founder of World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke and Minister of Tourism in Maldives, Hussain Lirar.

In addition to Sri Lanka tourism many local hotels, airlines and travel companies also won various awards at the event. They include SriLankan Airlines which was selected as Asia’s Leading Airline in the Indian Oceanand Asia’s Leading Cultural Airline, Casa Colombo as Asia’s Leading Design Hotel, Hilton Colombo as Sri Lanka’s Leading Business Hotel. Movenpick Colombo won two awards as Sri Lanka’s Leading Hotel and Sri Lanka’s Leading Hotel Suite. Aitken Spence Travels bagged Sri Lanka’s Leading Destination Management Company award while Taya Finch became Sri Lanka’s Leading Travel Agency. Habarana Lodge was named Sri Lanka’s Leading Family Resort.