The Sydney finale attracted over 100 Australian agents, wholesalers and tour operators with particularly strong numbers from behemoth agencies Flight Centre and Helloworld in attendance. Other companies represented included Adventure World, Excite Holidays and Qantas Holidays, along with an assortment of niche wildlife, surf, and outdoor specialists. Representatives from 11 trade and consumer media outlets were also on hand to cover the event.

Addressing the delegation, which also included representatives from 29 Sri Lankan based tourism suppliers, SLTPB’s Director of Marketing, Mrs Madubhani Perera reiterated the importance of Australian tourism arrivals into Sri Lanka and highlighted a strong growth rate of 9% last year. First quarter arrivals suggested that the SLTPB were well on target to achieve the goal of 70,000 Australian arrivals in 2016.

The roadshows in Australia are just one of the strategies that SLTPB is leveraging throughout 2016 to increase awareness in the country, which looks set to see continued growth in the years ahead.

The event, held at the five-star Hilton Hotel in Sydney’s central business district, commenced with a traditional oil lamp lighting ceremony, followed by a keynote address from Mr Lal Raj Wickramatunge, Consul General for Sri Lanka in Sydney, who was joined at the head table by C. L. Gasnawage, Assistant Director Marketing for Australia.

A comprehensive two hour networking and B2B session preceded a three-course dinner, before over a dozen lucky Sydney attendees won a range of fully hosted fact finding trips to Sri Lanka as well as an assortment of Sri Lankan sapphires, courtesy of Pledge Holidays, Golden Isle, Cinnamon Air, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Bernard Tours, Airwings Tours, Hawk Travel and Lanka Sportreizen.

Source : http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/sri-lanka-roadshows-toast-success-in-sydney/