World’s premier travel agents examine Destination SRI LANKA

= SriLankan Airlines demonstrates country’s safe and secure environment for visitors

= Visiting agents convinced enough to recommend Sri Lanka to their clients

= Positive change of perception after they saw ground situation in Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Sri Lanka Tourism’s image may have suffered largely from the unfortunate events in the recent past. But unwavering SriLankan Airlines with other tourism stakeholders of the country recently took a historic initiative to boost the country-image with more than 150 of the world’s premier travel agents and tour operators who play a great role in destination promotions.

Through a 4-day program dubbed as Global Sales Conference, SriLankan Airlines laid the groundwork to accelerate the recovery and growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry by giving these premier tour operators an opportunity to experience Sri Lanka’s top-rated tourist attractions and the favorable conditions that prevail in the country for tourism.

They were convinced that Sri Lanka remains a safe and fascinating place to visit and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sri Lanka to their clients as one of the world’s best places to visit irrespective of what had been said by certain sections of the international media.

This positive change of perception about Sri Lanka was manifest in these tour operators after they saw first-hand what really was going in this country’s tourism landscape.

This timely endeavor by SriLankan Airlines showcased the country’s readiness for tourism to this largest contingent from the international travel trade to Sri Lanka, and that Sri Lanka is not just magnificent, but safe and more than ready to receive global travellers to its shores. Notably, they have expressed their readiness to extensively promote Sri Lanka in their home markets after this convincing test of the destination.

Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines said,” It is great that so many top international agents came together to support this one-of-a-kind endeavour by SriLankan Airlines to reassure the world that Sri Lanka remains a safe and fascinating place to visit. Sri Lanka was recently recognized as one of the world’s friendliest countries. However, the reality is that Sri Lanka has always been warm and welcoming, and the people of this wonderful country have always looked after its visitors. It is pleasing to know that the visiting agents got to experience this first-hand, and intend to promote Sri Lanka extensively in their home markets.”

The assemblage experienced Sri Lanka’s top-rated tourist attractions firsthand before convening in Sigiriya to learn about the outlook of Sri Lanka as a destination that is not just magnificent, but safe and more than ready to receive global travellers to its shores.

Foreign General Sales Agents of the airline and SriLankan Holidays’ Franchise Operators also participated in the symposium in addition to travel trade industry representatives. A thoughtfully designed sightseeing tour preceded the conference, with visitors taking in highlights such as the Yala National Park; Ella; Kandy; Galle; Beruwala; Sigiriya; Nuwara Eliya; Habarana; Polonnaruwa; Anuradhapura; Ritigala; Negombo; and Colombo.

Eminent guest speakers, Alexandre Debanne, founder of Raid Amazones and Piyush Minocha, a Sr. Business Development Manager of the Expedia Group, spoke on marketing Sri Lanka to French travellers and Sri Lanka’s potential for sustainable tourism, respectively. The conference wrapped up with a panel discussion involving Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer and Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales & Distribution from SriLankan Airlines and Chalaka Gajabahu, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and moderated by Dileep Mudadeniya, Senior Vice President Global Alliances & Partnerships, John Keells Group Leisure sector.

Kumar Vellore Jagadeesan, General Manager of Anta Travels, India said, “Throughout our stay in Sri Lanka, we were overwhelmed by the hospitality and care that were extended to us. This is what makes Sri Lanka stand apart from the rest; the inherent caring ways of its people that make a traveller wish that his holiday never ends.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Kanwal Faizal Zia, Head of Business Development, Executive Aviation Pakistan added, “It did not take long for me to realize that irrespective of what is being said and spoken about Sri Lanka in the media, the country is absolutely beautiful and safe. Now, I want to come back every year. I am sure once you explore Sri Lanka, you would feel it too.”

Ashok Pathirage, Chairman, SriLankan Airlines remarked, “SriLankan Airlines has done it once again, by taking the initiative and laying the groundwork to accelerate the recovery and growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. I am certain that the synergism created in the last few days will contribute towards realizing the national vision to transform Sri Lanka into a high-value destination in the years ahead.”With the conclusion of the SriLankan Airlines’ Global Sales Conference, the airline looks forward to an on-target performance this winter, and the numbers look promising.