Lankan and Indian travel agents firm up ties at TAAI Convention

Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism trade industry was able to build and firm up ties with the Indian travel sector, paving the way forward for increased tourist activities between the two countries.
With the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) hosting its latest convention in Colombo, Sri Lanka, an exclusive segment was arranged to facilitate a B2B segment.
Around 450 representatives from the Indian travel trade and 150 participants from the Sri Lankan travel industry took part in the session.

According to Sri Lanka Tourism, the B2B session ended up with a positive outcome, strengthening the economic and business partnerships between the two countries further.

The sessions were mainly conducted for local and Indian trade representatives, giving them an opportunity to expand their businesses and share trade information of both countries. The occasion included the best of Sri Lanka’s accommodation providers and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) showcasing their potential in the travel and tourism trade. 
The business session and the Buyer–Seller meet were held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo on the July 7, in parallel to the convention, as sidelining events.

“The day two of the TAAI Convention concluded on a positive note giving an opportunity for both Sri Lankan and Indian trade representatives to network, connect and share information to take back a positive message about Sri Lanka to the world in order to encourage more Indian tourist arrivals as one of Sri Lanka’s key source markets,” said the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) in a statement to the media.

India’s’ leading travel and trade fair is conducted in collaboration with SLTPB, the main sponsor of the event, and co-partnered by SLAITO.
The three-day convention also included a Sri Lankan-themed dinner at Cinnamon Grand Colombo.  
The gala dinner, themed ‘Evening in Colombo’ was graced by Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena as chief guest, and Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando, along with other officials.