French Travel Agents find Lanka safe for travel

The successful conclusion of the Annual Congress of SNAV Provence held for a week in Sri Lanka with 100 French travel agents earned Sri Lanka much commendation, admiration and tributes as a paradise island.

President of SNAV Provence (Syndicate National des Agences de Voyage), the counterpart French organisation to SLAITO (Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators) Georges Colson said, “I had no specific apprehension, neither when in the country nor prior to departure. Coming here is not any more riskier than crossing any street in Paris.

The crucial point is that tourists have never been attacked or targeted. This is an internal problem. We need to show to French people, the path back to Sri Lanka” 100 SNAV members were flown in by SriLankan Airlines, one of the sponsors of the event, on September 13th on the invitation of Chairman of Connaissance de Ceylon and SLAITO, Chandra Wickramasinghe.

During their stay, the group visited the fishing villages and the housing scheme whose construction was co-financed with the help of SNAV members in 2006/2007 following the tsunami devastation.

Sri Lanka Tourism assisted the team to visit places of touristic interest and hosted a gala dinner on the final day of the congress at Club Bentota.

The congress helped the members better understand what is at stake in Sustainable Tourism and to identify the challenges which await them. Besides being in fashion, what is Sustainable Tourism, the role tourist distribution channels play, how can tour operators incorporate this delicate aspect into their products, were some of the information they took back with them.

“We are also happy that they have chosen the theme ‘Sustainable Tourism’ for the congress because Sri Lanka Tourism has sustainability and community involvement as the major thrust for its operations” said Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Renton de Alwis.