Berlin Tourism Fair:

Lanka in full strength after decade

by Shirajiv Sirimanne in Berlin

The world's leading travel trade show, ITB which is staged annually in Berlin where the leading 180 countries in the business of tourism meet to discuss key trends began in Berlin last Wednesday with Sri Lanka represented by 52 companies. After a lapse of 10 years a very strong delegation was fielded by the Ministry of Tourism, headed by Minister of Tourism and Sports, Navin Dissanayake with Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) Dr. Rohantha Athukorala and Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Paddy Withana.

One industry stalwart commented, ‘It is strange that the previous regime while alienating the private sector who had accounted for almost ninety nine percent of the tourism industry of the country in the decision making process also worked in isolation with the global community for almost a decade”. We see the new development of the tourism hierarchy very positively. Now it is about fast decision making that is required given the stiff competition, he quipped.

Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Paddy Withana will speak on Sri Lanka's investment opportunities in the tourism sector and the many developments which gives a glimpse of the potential of the booming tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

The number of visitors in January this year registering a seven percent growth due to the presidential election.

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised 53 top travel and hotel entities will be the largest Lankan delegation to take part in travel and trade fairs this year.

The SLTPB is on a aggressive tourism promotion drive. “This includes the endorsement of Miss World 2015 Rolene Strauss on the” One million trees initiative” which was a Sri Lanka Tourism and the Rotary Club partnered program aimed at arresting the declining forest cover of the country in the past two decades from 53 percent to 29 percent”: said Dr Athukorala.

Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Germany Karunatillake Amunugama too attended the event.

Pix: Shirajiv Sirimane