First-ever Global Sales Conference ends on high note

The Global Sales Conference organised by SriLankan Airlines to promote the island nation for tourism closed on a high note, with travel agents from across the world pledging support to sell the destination. 

In an effort to showcase the current situation in the country, which received negative publicity in international media recently, the national carrier showcased Sri Lanka’s readiness for tourism to over 150 of the world’s premier travel agents and tour operators.

A four-day programme was organised in partnership with local travel and tour agents and hotels. The conference drew the largest contingent from the international travel trade to Sri Lanka in recent history. The assemblage experienced Sri Lanka’s top-rated tourist attractions first hand, 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.  

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.  Fresh off the tour, the group joined the main conference on November 18, 2022, at the Aliya Resort, where they were given an opportunity to share positive experiences of the tour with the audience. They also engaged with several interactive sessions led by the officials of SriLankan Airlines and industry experts.   Though planned as a one-off event, SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nutall said given its success, the entity is looking to host the conference annually.