SLAITO to represent Sri Lanka at upcoming French Travel Show

• Sri Lanka Tourism will not be taking part for first time since inception of IFTM

The tourism sector stakeholders this week announced their decision to independently take part in International French Travel Market (IFTM) 2022, to capitalise on the increasing arrivals from that country for the upcoming winter season. 

As Sri Lanka Tourism will not participate in the travel show held in Paris, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) said its members decided to “take a stand to represent Sri Lanka”. 

“We felt it was particularly important for Sri Lanka to have a presence at this fair, at a time when we have a positive travel advisory and SriLankan Airlines operating three times a week to Paris,” the SLAITO said in a statement.
The IFTM will be held from September 20 to 22. Around 200 destinations, 1,700 brands, 34,000 tourism professionals and 150 conference sessions have been lined up for this year’s IFTM. 

The IFTM is an important event that the local tourism industry cannot afford to miss, if the overall objective is to lure more international travellers and revive the hard-hit sector, the SLAITO noted. 
It is the first time since the inception of the IFTM that Sri Lanka Tourism, as the apex promoting agency of destination Sri Lanka, has decided to not be part of the mega event. 

As it is imperative for Sri Lanka to be represented at the show that will place participating destinations under fresh spotlight, the SLAITO will attend the event with an eight-member team.  The destination management companies that have registered for the show are Aitken Spence Travels, Authenticities, Andrew the Travel Company, Connaisance de Ceylon, Lanka Sport Reizen, Lion Royal Tourisme, Jetwing Travels and Walkers Tours.

In the first seven months of this year, Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 25,451 French tourists. 
Analysis of the monthly arrivals, as per the statistics shared by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, showed French tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka are on an increasing trend.