Int'l travel mart opens tomorrow
 

by Anjana Gamage

The first international travel mart after the tsunami catastrophe will open in Colombo tomorrow (3rd) on a grand note with the participation of more than 100 exhibitors from South Asian countries.

The travel mart titled " Sri Lanka- Gateway to South Asia" will be inaugurated by the Minister of Industries, Investment Promotion and Tourism Anura Bandaranaike at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre at the BMICH premises at 9.00 am. The travel mart will continue till June 5.

The event will provide an opportunity for tourism industry stakeholders to meet with over 150 buyers and 100 exhibitors from around South Asia providing an opportunity for the devastated local tourism industry to once again rise from the debris with this international travel event, Director General of Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) S. Kalaiselavam told the "Daily News".

"The travel mart this year is highlighted by a number of activities of particular interest including workshops and seminars with presentations from prominent travel and tourism industry professionals", said Malraj Kiriella, Marketing Director of the SLTB.

A seminar on 'New Trends in South Asian Tourism" will be held in during first half of the day on June 5 that will feature international speakers Ken Scott, Director of Communication, PATA, Ian Raynolds, President of ABTA and Ms. Renuka Chaudry, Minister of Tourism in India.

According to Kiriella,a number of activities have been planned for this year's mart including entertainment for both foreign visitors and buyers too. "There will be lectures on ornithology, live craft and lace making, live painting and sculpture making, gems exhibition and identification lectures on rainforest, adventure tourism activities such as abseiling, flying, fox and camping, elephant safaris, hot air ballooning, live musical and cultural presentations, kiddies activities, food stalls and internet cafe", he said.

He also said that a number of ancillary industries will also be showcased at the mart including handicrafts, tea, gems and jewellery etc." This will present all these suppliers with excellent networking opportunities", he said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Airlines has decided to provide a 30 percent discount on air tickets to any destination during the period of June 3 to 5 as a promotion of the Sri Lankan travel mart. This was disclosed by the Head of Commercial- Sri Lankan Airlines Barry Brown at a recent press conference held at the Ceylon Hotel School.

The "Sari Sara" travel programme on Rupavahini will have a Sarisara Exhibition at the venue and will be opened for the general public from 12.00 noon to 11. 30 pm on June 4 and from 9.00am to 11.30 pm on June 5.

The curtain will fall on the Sri Lanka Travel Mart on June 5, evening with an award ceremony aimed at felicitating the most attractive stall from three categories: Travel and tourism sector, International seller sector and other general seller sector.

ANCL and the Rupavahini are the media sponsors of this year's travel mart.