Cabinet approval sought for tour operator programme; to appoint PR agencies

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) plans to seek Cabinet approval to allocate Rs.425 million for a tour operator programme to enhance destination marketing and promotional activities through them.

Under the programme, SLTPB expects to offer US$10 for each tourist tour operators bring into the country for a limited time period.

SLTPB Chairman Kishu Gomes revealed that about 90 tour operators, who bring a minimum of 250 tourists per year, have submitted their applications for the scheme with their individual arrival targets.

Considering the targets submitted by tour operators, he noted that SLTPB plans to seek access to Rs.425 million for the programme.

“We expect these funds to be invested into promotional and marketing activities by tour operators,” he added.

Further, SLTPB also plans to seek Cabinet approval to allocate Rs.550 million to appoint PR agencies for 13 key source markets of Sri Lanka for the next two years in order to maintain the consistency of marketing activities throughout the year.

“They will carry out daily coordination in these markets to ensure that all the activities we run in these countries are being wellmanaged,” he said.

Accordingly, PR agencies will be appointed in the UK, Germany, France, China, India,

Japan, Russia, Australia, Benelux, Poland, Ukraine and several Middle Eastern countries.

The SLTPB plans to call Expression of Interests (EOIS) to select PR agencies after securing Cabinet approval.

The SLTPB is also scheduled to hold lengthy discussions to finalise marketing and promotional activities for the next year.

Gomes noted that a budget exceeding Rs.4 billion will be available for marketing and promotional activities including for the proposed global promotional campaign.