Over 55 tour agents, 50 international journalists for Expo 2012
Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will kick off from 28 to 31 March at Sirimavo Bandaranayke Memorial Exhibition Centre of BMICH, under the theme ‘Partnering with the Hub of Asia.’
This event will be organised by the Export Development Board. Having foreseen the importance of Expo 2012 to promote Sri Lanka as a destination, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) took all the necessary steps to invite over 50 journalists representing the leading travel magazines and TV channels from the UK, China, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Singapore, Philippine and many other countries.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Development Ministry will also facilitate an opportunity for 55 international tour agents to take part in Expo 2012, with the ambition of encouraging the development and promotion of products. It has also arranged one to one meetings with the travel agents from a wide range of countries including UK, India, USA, China France, Malaysia and many other countries.
Furthermore, a help desk has been setup in order to assist the international participants with the required information on Expo 2012. The participants will be able to contact this help desk on 0772682687.
This exhibition will herald the boost of tourism as an industry in Sri Lanka. The international journalists will interview the local travel, trade and business community, with the view of promoting the ‘uniqueness’ of Sri Lanka Tourism industry worldwide. At the end of this session, the SLTPB will also arrange a familiarisation tour for the international journalists.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Managing Director Rumy Jauffer said, “Sri Lanka Tourism will use Expo 2012 as a brand building exercise to position Sri Lanka as a popular tourist destination in the world under the leadership of Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa and guided by Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development Dr. P.B Jayasundara. Over 1000 foreign buyers who are invited by the EDB to attend this event have opportunity to explore potential in Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and investment hub.”
The business community in Sri Lanka is highly impressed on the appropriate steps taken by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board to re-launch the Expo exhibition nearly after 15 years.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board will organise this national event with support of public and private sector institutions. The stakeholders of the event are the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Commerce, Board of Investment, Department of Export Agriculture, Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Tea Board, National Gems and Jewellery Authority and National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka.
The main objectives of hosting the Sri Lanka Expo 2012 is to promote Sri Lanka’s trade, investment and tourism; to re-position Sri Lanka as a lucrative business, investment and tourism destination in Asia and to instil buyer confidence in Sri Lanka’s quality products and services all of which will facilitate the business community to achieve the national target of $ 15 billion exports by year 2015.
