http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/716-sri-lanka-among-top-emerging-travel-destinations-in-the-world-wtm-2011-industry-report

Sri Lanka among top emerging travel destinations in the world - WTM 2011 Industry Report

The World Travel Market 2011 Industry Report has highlighted five countries including Sri Lanka as the five emerging counties behind the BRICS nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Sri Lanka was named as it is re-emerging after defeating terrorism, ending Sri Lanka's 30-year conflict, investing in infrastructure and emphasizing its natural beauty.

The Report is based on the findings of two independently conducted surveys in September 2011. World Travel Market has surveyed its key exhibitors and senior buyers (members of its Meridian Club) to discover the central issues for the industry and what will be discussed on the exhibition floor for the four days of World Travel Market (WTM) 2011 (7–10 November).

Sri Lanka has been ranked as the number one tourist destination by the 'New York Times' in its list of "31 Places to Go in 2010".

"The conflict finally ended last May, ushering in a more peaceful era for this teardrop-shaped island off India’s coast, rich in natural beauty and cultural splendours," states the New York Times.

"My intention is to generate environmental friendly sustainable tourism instead of relying only on leisure seeking popular tourism", stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in ‘Mahinda Chintana’, his manifesto to develop the country.

In keeping with this pledge, the Government has done much in the past years to fulfil the needs of the tourism industry. The Government identified tourism as a fast emerging potential growth sector in the economy in terms of foreign exchange earnings, employment creation, infrastructure development and regional development.

The Government intends to win the challenge of attracting tourists as many as 5 million annually.