Business rendezvous begins tomorrow:

Thailand Roadshow to hit Colombo

M F Jabir

Over 40 Sri Lankan companies with over100 Lankan business personnel were to participate in the glamorous Thai business feasta to be hled in Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel Colombo tomorrow. Premier Thai travel agents, hotels , entertainment and theme park and airlines will join their counterparts in the glittering evening in Colombo. "Amazing Thailand" Roadshow is organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo and Thai Tourism Industry.

Suladda Sarutilavan

TAT has organized the Amazing Thailand' Roadshow to update tourism products to the Sri Lankan counter part. "We would like to make the Sri Lankan market aware of different products available in Thailand through presentations.For example for family, Thailand's amazing entertainment parks and shopping opportunities, for youth we have soft adventure, and for religious folk our historic pristine Buddhist circuits etc," said Suladda Sarutilavan, Assistant Director, TAT.

Several Thai media organisations with scores of Sri Lankan counterparts would grace the occasion.This is the first time after two years that TAT is organizing the Roadshow in Colombo for which media from Thailand would participate. Several presentations and lucky draws for participants have been organized. "This is going to be a big event to enhance relationship between the two countries, Sri lanka and Thailand since both share Buddhist teachings," said a TAT official.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Deputy Governor Prakit Piriyakiet said that a survey by MasterCard Worldwide, published on www.CNNGo.com which is a popular international leisure and travel website, found that Bangkok was international holiday-maker's third-most favorite destination in 2012.

In 2011,Sri Lanka visitor arrivals totaled 53,626, up 7.82 % over 2010.During January-April 2012,Thailand welcomed 22,132 Sri Lankan visitors, up by 17.24 % over the same period of 2011, said Phanom Kaributra, Executive Director, ASEAN South Asia and South Pacific Region Department of Tourism Authority of Thailand " There is tremendous potential for tourism development between the two country's because the similarity of the cultural aspects and South Asia, was a major part of our tourism focus for 2012."

It has the best possible of all worlds "demographics, proximity and spending power. In addition to India, we also see strong potential to boost arrivals from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka," he said.

The Amazing Thailand' Roadshow would further boost Thai,Sri Lanka business ties an official said.