India tourism promo takes off next month
As news from Sri Lanka improves the tourism industry is gearing for the much-awaited India promotion backed by popular cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya targeting increased visitors from India.
The India promotion campaign is scheduled to take place in the third week of September accompanied by Brand Ambassador Sanath Jayasuriya and SriLankan Airlines with the aim of attracting at least 150,000 visitors from the Subcontinent annually, Tourist Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar told the Business Times.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) held a meeting recently with the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and the Tourist Hotels Association (THASL) where it had been positive of carrying out the Indian promotion.
India is the best place to bring in tourists immediately, the industry believes as India is supportive of Sri Lanka and the destination continues to be attractive to the Indian traveller due to the exchange rate as well.
The promotion is scheduled to take place in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore where they hope to attract high spenders and leisure and MICE travellers to Sri Lanka.
The initial delay in carrying out this tourism promotion in India was due to the ground situation during the Aragalaya movement where there was negative publicity on Sri Lanka in the Indian media since the attacks carried out on protestors on May 9 that provoked tensions, Mr. Shanthikumar explained.
India stands out among the top primary markets generating the highest number of arrivals to the country from January to July this year. India with 74,792 visitors accounting for 16.3 per cent of the total number of arrivals, was the highest source market up to July this year followed by the UK 58,879, Russia 48,321, Germany 37,105 and France 25,451.
The Jayasuriya-backed campaign is expected to generate increased visitors from India through the promotion of the Ramayana Trail, popular among Indian leisure and pilgrim travellers.
In the meantime, it has been reported that the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) meeting, postponed since April, is likely to take place here next year .
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