Visiting TAAI President Joyti Mayal (left) exchanges MoU signed for upcoming convention with Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando (extreme right) in the presence of Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga (second from left) and One Industry One Voice President Mahen Kariawasam (second from right) 
Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

• Over 500 delegates and 50 media personnel to visit SL
• Fresh opportunity for SL Tourism to boost ties with Indian travel industry
• SLTPB to fund three-day convention with Rs.66mn

Sri Lanka will receive a fresh boost from neighbouring giant India come April, as a mega delegation is slated to visit the island nation. The delegation will explore avenues to support the local tourism sector.
Over 500 delegates from the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) will visit Sri Lanka in April to host their 66th annual convention. 

The TAAI is the largest tourism organisation and the representative body of the travel industry of India.
The association will also bring 50 media personnel from India to cover the mega convention and create content to promote destination Sri Lanka.

The convention is scheduled to take place over three days, from April 19 to 21 and will serve as a platform for local industry stakeholders to establish and firm up links with Indian travel agents.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) will sponsor the three-day event, with an allocation of Rs.66 million. Concessions will be offered by national carrier SriLankan Airlines for the delegates, while the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) will take over the ground arrangements for the entire duration of stay.

The TAAI, SLAITO and Sri Lanka Tourism entered into a tri-party agreement yesterday, confirming the arrangements of the event.

The focal points of the three-day event will be Sri Lanka inbound tourism, Indian outbound tourism and destination promotion. 

Commenting on the significance of the event, visiting TAAI President Joyti Mayal expressed confidence in the convention, serving as a stepping stone to improve tourist traffic from India to Sri Lanka.

“I believe that our strengths, our culture and our roots are so strong as it goes way back. It is important to build on this and move forward and the convention will help in that direction,” said Mayal addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday.

She pointed out that the convention would serve as a platform to develop and restructure the strengths of the tourism sector, while rebuilding what the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted. 

Commenting on the upcoming convention, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the event would be a turning point for the local tourism industry.

“By hosting such events I hope Sri Lanka will be recognised as a hub for international conferences.

Having engaged with one of our major tourist destination, I hope we can continue to work towards maintaining and improving relations between our two countries,” said Ranatunga.

India emerged as the largest source market for Sri Lanka Tourism in 2021, with 56,268 arrivals.