SLTPB discusses improving direct airline connectivity with Europe at ITB 2018
Improving and creating direct airline connectivity from Europe to Sri Lanka and linking up with German Travel Associations were major focus areas of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) during the ITB 2018 held in Germany recently.
With regards to travel connectivity, Edelweiss Airlines Vice President met officials of SLTPB to discuss promotional activities related to its inaugural flight to Sri Lanka scheduled for November, 2018.
Edelweiss is a Swiss leisure airline wholly owned by Swiss International Airline, which is part of the Lufthansa Group.
In the lead up to the inaugural flight, SLTPB agreed to arrange a group of high profile foreign journalists and bloggers on a familiarisation tour of Sri Lanka to ensure maximum support to make this venture a success.
A number of promotional activities are also being planned by the airline to create awareness of the destination.
Meanwhile, Lufthansa Group Policy Head Dr. Kay Lindemann expressed interest in Eurowings, a German low-cost airline which is also a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, operating flights to Colombo in near future.
Etihad Marketing Partnerships Vice President Patrick Pierce was optimistic on the growth potential in the European-colombo sector for leisure travel.
Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga who chaired the meeting requested for greater co-operation from Etihad to bring more traffic to Sri Lanka. At the meeting, Etihad offered complimentary airline tickets to the winners of the social media competition carried out by Sri Lanka Tourism during ITB.
With regards to linking up with German Travel Associations, Deutscher Reise Verband (DRV) (known as German Travel Association) Managing Director Dirk Inger and Political Affairs Head Volker Adamswas optimistic on arranging a trade familiarisation tour of Sri Lanka for a large group of members of their association.
This was expressed at the meeting held during ITB 2018 with DRV, senior officials of SLTPB and Sri Lanka Embassy in Germany.
Welcoming the proposal, SLTPB assured DRV that Sri Lanka Tourism in collaboration with the tourism industry stakeholders of Sri Lanka would provide the necessary support which will have a mutual benefit for Germany and Sri Lanka. Facilitation of the tour in Sri Lanka and arrangement of B2B sessions were also discussed at the meeting to make the trade familiarisation tour a success.
DRV is a leading tourism association consisting of tour operators, travel agents as well as associated members such as airlines, railways linked to the tourism industry. DRV represents approximately 85 percent of the total revenue of the German Travel and agency tour operator market. DRV supports the interest of small, mid-size and large companies in the travel industry in Germany. Hosting such an event in Sri Lanka will pave the way to gain new contacts within the German tourism industry.