Sri Lanka was voted as a finalist by UK travel trade for Culture and Heritage Holiday Destination Category of the Travel Bulletin Star Awards. This achievement is a great endorsement by the UK Trade and an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka to showcase its uniqueness a compact island enriched with natural resources and exclusive cultural heritage. Travel Bulletin is one of the UK’s leading weekly travel brands (magazine) for delivering news, training, incentives and competitions. The awards night was held on the 4^th of September 2017.

Nalin Perera, Sri Lanka Tourism Representative based in UK receiving the certificate

The Travel Bulletin Star Awards is the UK Travel Trade’s most prestigious awards programme rewarding every sector in the tourism industry. They serve to recognize, reward and celebrate excellence by acknowledging those suppliers’ that have flourished over the last 12 months and have provided the best products and services possible to the UK Travel Agents.

The voting, open exclusively to UK high street, multiple, independent, online and home based travel agents, took place over a 6-week period from 28th April to 2nd June 2017. All agents were invited to champion those companies they consider to be the very best by voting for them in a range of industry categories, so no nominations are required by suppliers. A completely fair and open voting system was conducted and the winners were announced and presented with their exclusive crystal trophies on 4^th September 2017 at 5* Langham Hotel, which is a prestigious hotel in London.

These endorsements will have a positive impact for the tourism industry which will bring prestige and honor to the country as an amazing travel destination and also support to enhance the tourist arrivals by bringing in a good income for the benefit of the country.