A group of eight professional bloggers and influencers representing the United Kingdom visited Sri Lanka as part of a destination promotional familiarisation tour for the UK market.
It was organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
The FAM Tour spanned 11 days. The tour unveiled a tapestry of experiences, weaving together a vibrant narrative of Sri Lanka’s diverse attractions. The carefully curated itinerary showcased key highlights in each place visited.
They visited key tourism attractions such as Negombo, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya, Trincomalee, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella,Yala, Galle, and Colombo showcasing the best that Sri Lanka has to offer.
The media delegation had the opportunity to delve into the rich historical heritage of Sri Lanka through visits to iconic landmarks such as Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and the Galle Fort, Nuwara Eliya and Colombo.
The tour also highlighted Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, with visits to picturesque locations such as the tea-growing region of Nuwara Eliya, the wildlife haven of Yala National Park, and the awe-inspiring Ella Gap. The participants were able to witness firsthand the island’s incredible biodiversity and experience thrilling encounters with elephants, leopards, and a myriad of bird species during their visits to Minneriya National Park and Yala National Park.
In Trincomalee, the delegation had the opportunity to embark on a dolphin-watching excursion and a boat ride to Pigeon Island. They visited Koneshwaram Temple and Nilaveli Beach and explored the different charms of the East Coast of Sri Lanka.
During their visit to Nuwara Eliya, they had the opportunity to experience The Pekoe Trail, a new tourism product, that took them from Kandapola to Pedro Estate, in stage 22, a 10-kilometre trek offering a picturesque journey through tea plantations and scenic landscapes.
The trail ended at the Pedro Tea Factory visit where they witnessed the tea processing and a tea-tasting session was arranged to introduce different varieties of tea produced in the highlands.
The Pekoe Trail project is funded by European Union and endorsed by Sri Lanka Tourism as a new tourism product. The scenic train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella presented the media representatives with breathtaking vistas, including the iconic Ella Rock.
During the tour they indulged in delectable culinary experiences, from visits to fish markets, aromatic spice gardens to authentic cooking demonstrations at Hiriwadunna.
The UK Media FAM Tour also shed light on sustainable tourism initiatives practiced by Sri Lankan hoteliers and tourism zones, especially in Negombo, Sigiriya, Galle and Kandy further highlighting the destination’s commitment to responsible, nature-friendly, community-based tourism eco-system practiced the service providers. The group shared their experiences via social media handles while on tour with their audiences.