World’s third largest travel company opens office in Colombo

Shirajiv Sirimane

NEW OFFICE: Business opportunities are growing in Sri Lanka and this has prompted the third largest travel company in the world, BCD Travels of Netherlands to set up an office in Colombo. BCD travels have appointed Worldlink Travels as their agents in Sri Lanka.

General Manager and Vice President Asia Pacific, Operations, BCD Travels, Roger Pfund said they organise corporate travel starting from airline ticketing hotel booking to back office facilities in nearly 100 countries in the world.

He said that with business opportunities growing in Sri Lanka many companies such as Microsoft, Glaxo SmithKline have requested them to have an office in Sri Lanka so that their travel could be made easy. In addition to this there are many Sri Lankan companies who want to set up business overseas and we can now respond to their needs as well, he said.

He also said that the infrastructure and the economy in Sri Lanka is rapidly developing and this too is a reason for international companies to set up businesses in Sri Lanka. “Colombo airport is the best example of economic development as it is one of the best airports in the region,” he said.

The company has an annual turnover of US $ 12 billion and they see an emerging market from the Asian region, which includes Sri Lanka as well. “The Asian Pacific growth is around 20 percent and we expect this to grow to over 30 percent within the next five years,” he said.

Chairman Managing Director, Worldlink, Ahintha Amarasinghe said business travel is growing and this tie up would enable them to give an even better deal the Sri Lankan corporate sector.