Sri Lanka shines at ITB despite Kandy unrest
Destination Sri Lanka was a hot favourite at the world’s leading travel and trade show ITB which opened in Berlin, Germany on March 7th.
The event which will conclude tomorrow (11th) is the largest global tourism platform connecting more than 180 countries with thousands of potential buyers from all parts of the globe.
Although news of the events in Kandy over the past few days overshadowed the grand opening of the Sri Lanka Pavilion, it did little to dampen the enthusiasm and interest of the thousands of visitors who have been flocking to the pavilion.
Minister of Tourism Development John Amaratunga who declared open the Sri Lanka Pavilion made use of the opportunity to inform and reassure the international tourism community that the unfortunate events that affected a few outskirts off Kandy were now history and that normalcy had been restored in the affected areas. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau showcased an eye-catching pavilion and created a business setting for 68 hoteliers and tour operators from Sri Lanka to network with the global tourism industry.