Tourism Professionals from Sri Lanka Highlight “Destination Sri Lanka” at IFTM Top Resa in Paris
Sri Lanka Tourism showcased “Destination Sri Lanka” at the International & French Travel Market 2024 IFTM Top Resa held at Porte de Versailles in Paris from 17 to 19 September 2024. The Sri Lanka Pavilion, organized by Sri Lanka Tourism, was spacious, beautiful, and well-located, attracting many visitors at IFTM. The pavilion highlighted the diverse aspects of Sri Lanka, including Ceylon tea and traditional Sri Lankan dance and music.
Twenty-six (26) Sri Lankan travel and tourism companies, including prominent names in the French market like Aitken Spence Travels, Jetwing Travels, Connaissance de Ceylan, Andrew The Travel Company, Thema Collection, Walkers Tours Ltd, and Lanka Sportreizen, participated in this year’s IFTM. New companies such as Rosyth Estate House also made their debut at the French travel mart.
The Sri Lanka Pavilion was inaugurated by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France, Manisha Gunasekera, and the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Chalaka Gajajabahu. Representatives from Sri Lankan Airlines, industry leaders, and associations were also present at the ceremony. The event featured Sri Lankan delicacies and Ceylon tea.
The Ambassador praised Sri Lanka for its economic growth in the travel & tourism sector and commended Sri Lanka Tourism for its impressive showcase at IFTM. The Chairman welcomed the French travel industry to the pavilion and highlighted the industry’s resilience and potential for growth in Sri Lanka.
A networking dinner reception was organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy for the representatives of Sri Lankan travel companies and French organizations on the evening of 17 September. Valerie Boned, the President of Les Entreprises du Voyage, attended the reception.
France is a significant market for Sri Lanka, with 67,000 French tourists visiting the country from January to August in the current year. The tourism sector is expected to see further growth in the coming months.
IFTM Top Resa is a prominent travel expo in France that showcases over 170 destinations and attracts nearly 30,000 industry professionals annually. Sri Lanka’s participation was made possible by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Embassy in France.
Sri Lanka Tourism presented “Destination Sri Lanka” at the IFTM Top Resa in Paris in September 2024. The Sri Lanka Pavilion featured various aspects of the country, including tea, dance, and music. Twenty-six Sri Lankan travel companies participated in the event, with both established and new companies present. The Pavilion was inaugurated by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France and showcased the growth and potential of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. A networking dinner was organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy for industry representatives. France is a significant market for Sri Lankan tourism, with a notable increase in tourist arrivals from the country. Sri Lanka’s participation was facilitated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in partnership with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France.
