Sri Lanka attends Arab Health 2019
The Sri Lankan wellness tourism sector delegation successfully concluded the participation at the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress, held from January 28-31, 2019, by generating average 100-120 initial business contacts and out of which, 75 are potential conversions.
All the companies have had successful business contacts with the travel agents and other relevant organisations. Most of the Arab clients have requested short holiday packages, average for three to four days, which will be cost-effective and companies are in the process of designing the packages to the identified clients.
The delegation has showcased the best offerings of the Sri Lanka wellness tourism sector to the Arab clients and most of the travel agents and it was revealed that there is a huge potential for Sri Lanka to promote wellness tourism.
Each company had conducted nearly 15-20 business meetings with potential clients, influential travel agents during the exhibition, which could result to the future business developments of the companies. The new business contacts generated in this event with the potential agents would create the platform to increase business in the best interest of Sri Lanka wellness tourism.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry, Sri Lanka Consulate in Dubai and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Export Development Board organized this event as a collaborative programme and facilitated the following six leading companies to participate in the exhibition: Siddhalepa Ayurveda Resort Wadduwa, Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort - Beruwala, Heritance Ayurveda Mahagedara - Beruwala, Sen Wellness Sanctuary Tangalle, Tree of Life - Kandy and Reefs Edge (Kaya Resort) - Uswetakeiyawa, Negombo.
The main focus of organising this programme was to introduce Sri Lanka wellness tourism offerings to the GCC countries as a new service area and to build up business relationships between the two countries.
Tree of Life Managing Director Shelly Thenuwara stated, “The programme was very helpful for us to find potential clients, identify the specific client base, market segments/ intelligent/analysis to enter the Middle Eastern countries.”
Sen Wellness Sanctuary, Tangalle Managing Director Sudheera Kankanamge, expressed, “It was the vision of the organising committee in providing a new working forum for our members in a pleasant and comfortable environment, which helped to make our vision a reality in today’s modern wellness world as we continue to grow as a chapter.”
Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara General Manager Janaka Buddhakorala stated, “We had quite a number of potentially successful meetings pre-arranged by the consulate and we identified that there is a huge vacuum for wellness tourism in the market in the region.”