The first phase of a massive campaign to rejuvenate the UK holiday market kicked off this month at the Holiday & Travel Show of Manchester. The annual event held from 16th to the 18th of January is among the first major event in the UK, and is considered to be the most successful show in the region, attracting massive crowds each year.

Sri Lanka Tourism together with SriLankan Airlines offered a number of special packages for UK residents to visit Sri Lanka, with a prize draw giving away a free holiday, attracting considerable interest from visitors to the fair.

UK Country Director for Sri Lanka Tourism, Sanjika Perera, reviewing the event said, "we were able to finalize many bookings at the fair. The draw for a free holiday in Sri Lanka was the highlight of the Sri Lankan stall, and drew a massive amount of interest."

This is the most successful consumer travel show for Manchester and the north west of UK, with over 20 million people taking up overseas travel each year. Taking on the success of this event, Senses Holidays - the UK based Sri Lankan tour operator specializing in tailor-made upmarket holidays with special focus on Sri Lanka - has invited Sri Lanka Tourism to participate at the London ‘Destinations’ Travel Show and the Glasgow Holiday Travel Show in Scotland in February 2009.