SLTPB to attract tourists from China

The Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF 2009) was held at the Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Centre, recently, with the participation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and several travel companies from Sri Lanka.

GITF statistics state that more than 700 exhibitors from over 40 countries, participated at the event which brought together 30 provinces of China, at one platform. Furthermore, there have been 60,000 visitors during the three day period, out of which 20,000 were professional buyers.

The Sri Lankan stall was centrally located in an area of 27 square meters, where, Sri Lanka Tourism, Jetwing Travels, LSR, Walkers Tours, and Srilankan Airlines Office in Hong Kong shared the space.

Sri Lanka has been participating at GITF for the past 6 years, and this year was especially significant as the stand was designed taking into consideration the new logo depicting the diversity and compactness of the country. Over 15,000 brochures and giveaways were distributed at the stall and furthermore, the dance performance of the Channa Upuli Performing Arts Foundation attracted thousands of visitors. They further were invited to perform on the main stage of the fair, each day, capturing the attention of agents and the general travelling public.

In conjunction with this event, a workshop was organized with the participation of Li Zhixin, Deputy Chairman of Guangzhou Municipal Tourism Board, as well as 40 tour operators from Guangzhou and the surrounding area, where SLTPB launched the new logo as well as extended the validity period of the "Ayubowan Sri Lanka" package. Madubhani Perera, Acting Director Marketing, SLTPB, made the welcome speech explaining the theme behind the new logo followed by a detailed presentation on Sri Lanka Tourism by Shan Lin, Marketing Manager, SLTPB China. Gyan Amarasinge, Manager of SriLankan Airline Hong kong office officially launched a new discount ticket between Hong Kong and Colombo, on the occasion.

A second workshop combined with a media conference, was held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Shenzhen. Seven years after signing the ADS agreement between China and Sri Lanka, this was the first time that the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau organized a promotional activity in a southern city of China. Supported by the Shenzhen Municipal Tourist Board, more than 80 people from over 40 agencies and media personnel, attended the workshop. Madhubani Perera of SLTPB and Yue Gan, Deputy Division Chief of Shenzhen Municipal Tourism Board spoke at the occasion. Yue Gan stressed the importance of exchanging cultural and natural heritage between the two countries and the importance of a modern harbor city like Shenzhen through which Sri Lanka can gain many trade benefits.

Subsequent to the workshops in both cities, a group of seven VIP decision makers from Guangzhou and Shenzhen will be arriving in Sri Lanka towards the latter part of May, on a familiarization tour. A further batch of a 16 member operational and marketing staff, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in early June, to get first hand experience of the destination, to finalize mega tour groups to the country, in future. These tours will be jointly hosted by SLTPB, SriLankan Airlines and the three local agents who were present at the workshops.