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| Sunday, 23 November 2003 |
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AITO visit, shot in the arm for tourism by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE Tourism industry in Sri Lanka will get a shot in the arm with the arrival of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) of United Kingdom and travel journalists to cover the annual conference of AITO in Sri Lanka from November 21 -23. AITO's President Martin Garland said Sri Lanka has tremendous potential to offer tourists in terms of cultural, religious and archaeological tours, eco tours, wildlife tours, etc. AITO handle up market tourist groups who spend around sterling pounds 500-10,000. Sri Lanka along with Maldives would be an ideal location for tourists, he said. Garland said that he was delighted to be in Sri Lanka at the time when the English cricket team was touring the country and was looking forward to witness the Test cricket series between England and Sri Lanka. Ms. Lynette Abblaster from AITO said that Sri Lanka was an ideal location for some in their group to visit tea estates. She said she was very keen this being her first visit to Sri Lanka. Ms. Charmarie Maelge of Sri Lanka Tourist Board said the AITO conference would put Sri Lanka on the world map of tourism. The Tourist Board considers this as a perfect opportunity to diversify its product from beach orientation to other products like nature, culture, and adventure, she said. Meanwhile 150 leading tour specialists from UK and 11 journalists are in Sri Lanka for the event. AITO members generate over 2 million holiday visits throughout the world each year. The 18th Annual Overseas Conference of AITO is held in Asia for the first time and the venues this time will be the Trans Asia and Galle Face hotel in Colombo. Sri Lanka Tourist Board, SriLanka Airlines and the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau are the main sponsors of this conference. |
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