Over 700 French travel agents will be participating for their Congress, staged in Sri Lanka from October 30 to November 3, 2016.

They will be visiting Negombo, Colombo with excursions to the Cultural Triangle during the five days of the Congress.

Sydicat National Des agents de Voyages (SNAV), The largest Travel Agents Association in France at their Executive Board meeting on October 20 have voted unanimously for Sri Lanka as the venue for their congress 2016 against other contenders. This is considered a landmark occasion for Sri Lanka Tourism not only with the winning of the bid but also the opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka to over 700 French Travel Agents when they are hosted for the Congress in Sri Lanka.

The Syndicat National des Agencies de Voyages is a professional organization ruled by the French law of 1884.

Created in 1944, it has a membership of 5,700 state approved travel agencies and tour operators of France Representing more than 5,000 sales points in France. SNAV seeks to constantly develop the profession of the travel agent. Since 1962, the SNAV has also given the consumer better protection by creating the APS (the Association paraprofessional de Solidarite due tourism) relating to financial guarantees.

On a European level, the SNAV is a member of the ECTAA (European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations).

Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Ministry of Tourism and Christian Affairs, Embassy of Sri Lanka in France, Tourism Promotion Bureau together with SriLankan Airlines and Industry stakeholders pursued the bidding process to its final success.