SL to promote Ayurveda at ITB
Sri Lanka would field the largest ever business delegation posted for
any travel event in the history to date when over 160 stakeholders
representing 64 travel companies take wing to Germany to attend the ITB,
in Berlin from March 6 to 10. Sri Lanka Tourism would be led by its
Managing Director, Rumy Jauffer and Dilini Ranayake.
German media personnel at the Sri Lankan ITB stand |
Jauffer said that this year the theme would be Ayurveda and the
growing demand for wellness tourism in the world.
“We will also have a bid area in the local stand dedicated for
Ayurveda and the Sidhalepa Group would be taking a special team to offer
treatment. In addition to the ITB for the first time an investment forum
too would be hosted by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Berlin.
This would mainly be to position local entrepreneurs face to face
with German leisure sector investors. “This would also be an ideal
opportunity for the local SME sector to interact with big global
players,” he said.
“This is an advantage the country has when there is one minister to
oversee both tourism and economic affairs,” he said.
He said in addition for the first time they would also have a draw
for visitors in the Sri Lanka pavilion and a gem studded pendant with
the courtesy of Zam Gems would be given to the winner. The tea bar
sponsored by Macwoods would be another attraction. He said that German
tourists were ‘long stayers’ and high spenders and due to this market
segment would be very important.
He also spelled out plans to invite over 100 tour operators,
journalists and bloggers for a FAM tour to Sri Lanka in May.
“SriLankan Airlines would provide 30 free return air tickets while
Turkish Airlines, Qatar, Etihad, Emirates and Oman Air were also
expected to provide free tickets. Local travel associations and hotels
have come forward to look after the ground transportation and
accommodation,” he added.
While presenting the best tour operator award a special journalist
award too would be presented to the write who aggressively promoted Sri
Lankan tourism last year.
With more than 170,000 visitors, among these 113,000 trade visitors,
and 11,000 represented companies from 180 countries ITB Berlin is the
leading B2B-Platform of all tourism industry offers. In addition, the
world’s largest tourism convention ITB Berlin Convention provides unique
opportunities to benefit from the leading think tank of the global
tourism industry.
All levels of the value added chain are present: Tour operators,
booking engines, destinations, airlines and hotels right through to car
rental companies.
Exhibitor sales of about six billion Euro and an exhibitor
satisfaction rate of 92 percent were evidence enough that supply and
demand meet at the right place. |