Sri Lanka Tourism Board and Spiceland Holidays, one of India’s leading DMC has organized a road show at Bangalore to attract growing Indian outbound market, in conjunction with India International Travel Mart’ – IITM India’s premier travel and tourism Exhibition.
While addressing the gathering. Mr. John A.E.Amaratunga, Minister for Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, Sri Lanka, said “India is our major source market and we are happy to welcome every Indian tourists with our traditional Sri Lankan hospitality and our state of the art infrastructure. Sri Lanka Tourism authority has already prepared an array of travel package to attract Indian Tourists, including Ramayana trails and leisure packages. The sufficient air connectivity and proximity, made India as the number one source market of Sri Lanka and rapid growth in travelers of age range 25-40 years from India, to experience the beaches, night life and adventure sports in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Amaratunga has also launched their exclusive Ramayana trails website at IITM Bangalore. Through this unique marketing intiative, Sri Lanka Tourism aims to increase the footfall of Indian tourists to island country by double digit growth in 2020.
Mr. Riyaz.U.C, Managing Director of Spiceland holidays, the consolidators of Sri Lankan Tourism market from India has welcomed the gathering and described on various tour packages designed exclusively for Indian market from budget to luxury and wildlife to honeymoon for discerning Indian travelers those who plans to visit Sri Lanka. He also informed that Spiceland is partnering with Sri Lanka tourism Promotion Bureau and its various private sector stake holders for the promotion of island nation in India.
Leading Hotels group like Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Mount Lavina Hotel, RIU Hotels & Resorts etc presented an array of outstanding holiday products to tour operators from various south Indian cities, were also invited as special guests for the event.
Mr. Jeevan Fernando, Assistant Director- New Products Development, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau said “ India is connected with Sri Lanka with over 150 flights every week by its national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines and India’s national carrier Air India and other private airlines to Colombo from various Indian cities. For the pilgrim travelers and older age groups the `Ramayan trail’ is an attraction, and even Indians from around the world are visiting Sri Lanka to experience this. “We have identified 16 sites for the Ramayan Trail”.
Sri Lanka eyes the great potential of weddings, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE), films and cruise. “With destination wedding becoming a trend, we see a huge potential and want to tap this market in India. MICE and films are other areas which provide us good opportunity,” Jeevan said.
Further, he added about the increase in demand for cruise from India, and Sri Lanka can become an embarking point for those Travellers. Sri Lanka plans to spend 150 million Sri Lankan rupees for trade promotion and marketing activities like road shows to woo the Indian Travellers. China is the second source market after India followed by the UK, Germany and France. Mr. V. Krishnamoorthy, Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, Mr. Yasantha de Silva Yaddehi, Member- Commercial of Sri Lanka deputy High Commission in Chennai, Mr. Denesh Silva, Director – Sales & Marketing of Ameya Resorts, Mr. Vithiyaroopan Rajaratnam, CEO of Green Tours & Resorts, Mr. Madhu Gopalan, Vice President, Spiceland Holidays, Mr. Rajindra Daniel, AVP-John Keels group, Ms. Richa Sharma, Manager -India of RIU, Ms. Kayschelle Tisseverasinghe, Manager- Sales & Marketing of Mount Lavina Hotel, Ms. Keith Isacs, Manager- Grandeza Resorts and Mr. Vincent Renold, Vice President- Sri Lanka of Spice Land Holidays were also participated in the Roadshow
