Sri Lanka Tourism Roadshow in prominent Indian cities reaches its final leg
The Morning: As part of a series of Sri Lanka Tourism Roadshows held in prominent Indian cities like Kolkata and Ahmedabad, the Pune Roadshow was held recently at the Hyatt Regency. This marked the third and final leg of Sri Lanka Tourism’s three-city roadshow, which began in Kolkata on September 25, followed by the Ahmedabad Roadshow on September 27.
The Pune event featured notable speakers, including Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai Dr. Valsan Vethody, Board Member of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Nalin Perera and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Chairman Thisum Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka Tourism continues to serve as a platform for the extensive travel market in Sri Lanka, positioning itself as a highly sought-after international destination.
With a strong focus on attracting Indian tourists, Sri Lanka Tourism showcased its top tourism attractions during the event, which was attended by 36 Sri Lankan Travel and Tourism companies and approximately 200 Indian Tour Operators, including travel agents, MICE representatives, and corporate entities. The Sri Lankan delegation engaged in discussions with key players in the travel and tourism industry to explore travel opportunities for Indian tourists.
Sri Lanka Tourism is committed to diversifying its range of tourism products and events to appeal to all types of travelers, including backpackers and luxury seekers interested in adventure tourism and undiscovered destinations.
The country’s tourism industry has experienced a surge in recent years, earning accolades such as ‘best adventure destination in Asia’ and ‘best up-and-coming travel destination’ by Lonely Planet. Sri Lanka Tourism is poised for further growth, having welcomed 170,247 tourists from India up to August 2023. The highest number of Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2018, with 424,887 arrivals.
The Roadshow also organized a raffle draw offering tours to Sri Lanka, hotel stays, and more as gifts to attendees. Sri Lanka Tourism assures Indian tourists and investors that the country is open for business and has taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of those visiting for leisure and business purposes.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka Tourism authorities have been engaged in many tourisms promotional programmers targeting new tourist source markets while also identifying and promoting new tourism concepts in the country. India is one of Sri Lanka’s key tourist source markets and there have been many promotional campaigns carried out in Indian cities. The steady growth in tourist arrivals to the country indicates an overall growth in the country’s tourism industry and an expansion in business/investment opportunities in the industry. Most of the growing opportunities in the tourism industry are seen in the leisure and hospitality sectors. The growth and business potential in the tourism industry is further evident by the interest shown by international leisure and hospitality brands to enter Sri Lanka. Local businesses in the tourism industry are also looking at refurbishing and expanding their operations. With the overall growth in the country’s economy, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore confidently explore the expanding opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, especially in the leisure and hospitality sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20231010/Z_1 |