Sri Lanka takes a cultural and heritage theme at Top Resa 2015

At the IFTM-2015 Top Resa, the leading international travel and tourism trade fair in France which will be launched tomorrow, Sri Lanka will take the ‘Culture and Heritage’ theme so that we differentiate ourselves from the competition, said Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Chairman Rohantha Athukorala.

Thirty-six senior tourism officials will take part in the 2015 edition with the Deputy Minister for Tourism Development Arundika Fernando leading the delegation together with the Market Head for France at SLTPB Sarangi Thilakasiri and the top private sector operating the French market, said the communique from Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau.

The first edition of the fair was in year 1979 and every year it is organised by Reed Expositions at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Starting on 29 October this year’s edition will uncover the latest trends in travel, holiday and leisure. This trade show deliver the latest trends in the game with over 29,820 tourism professionals visiting the event comprising of 160 nationalities making the event a ‘must be there’ tag.

“Sri Lanka Tourism will launch the ‘Monkey Kingdom’ Disney epic that crossed the 16.4 million dollar mark in box office ticket sales will be featured in the French Edition,” said Dr. Athukorala. “The concluding discussions will also take place on the movie to Disney Paris, where a trail is to be developed that will sure help the brand equity of Sri Lanka Tourism,” he said. “We will also launch the French version of the Bachelor where the last two editions of the reality TV program that will be filmed in Sri Lanka is targeted to attracts a viewership of 1.3 million top end French households.”

“As a run up to Top Resa, Petit Fute – one of the most respected French travel guidebook publishing companies – featured Sri Lanka in the 2015 edition, given that research insight revealed that 68% of the tourists in France carry a guide book. Today, every printed guidebook is available on smart phones and tablet with over 252,000 e books sold whilst the 32% French tourists having access to the Petit Fute. The Sri Lankan edition is available free of charge on the website which will sure influence the decision making process of a potential traveler,” said the Market Head for France Sarangi Thilakasiri.

The industry ranks Top Resa as one of the top three events annually for networking, doing business, innovating and keeping abreast of market development. The exhibition offers a 360-degree panorama of the travel industry, covering all sectors: leisure, business and events and Sri Lanka is targeting a 100,000 visitors from France for 2015,” said Thilakasiri.