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Wednesday, 22 January 2020 02:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President of France’s Salaün Holidays Michel Salanu (second from left) briefs the Sri Lankan media yesterday. Others from left: Connaissance de Ceylan Theme Resorts and Spas Chairman/MD Chandra Wickramasinghe, Tourism and Aviation State Minister Arundika Fernando, and Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando - Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe
More French and Belgian tourists are anticipated following the conclusion of a mega PR exercise involving 20 leading journalists from these two European markets.
The commendable initiative was by Chairman and Managing Director of Connaissance de Ceylan and Theme Resorts and Spas Chandra Wickramasinghe, organised in collaboration with Salaün Holidays, a leading tour operator in France. Twenty journalists from print, magazines, radio and TV from France and Belgium were flown in to spend four days in Sri Lanka to get a first-hand experience of Sri Lanka post-Easter Sunday tragedy. 
Having been an ardent promoter of Sri Lanka for 15 years, Salaün Holidays President Michel Salanu said his company annually has been bringing over 2,000 tourists mostly from France and to a lesser degree from Belgium, and following the familiarisation tour of journalists the numbers will increase.
Chandra Wickremesinghe said the initiative is likely to result in tourists arranged by Salaün to double to 4,000 this year or by next year.
Connaissance estimate the follow up publicity in French and Belgian media to be worth Rs. 350 million after the journalists savoured Sri Lanka for four days enjoying some of the best tourism sights including a tour to Sigiriya by air and experiences such as tuk tuk and train rides, authentic Sri Lankan cuisine etc.
Tourism and Aviation State Minister Arundika Fernando, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka President Sanath Ukwatte commended the initiative by Connaissance and Salaün since the French market is important.
A more aggressive marketing campaign and direct flights from Paris were highlighted as measures that will help enhance more tourists from France and neighbouring European countries.
