Sri Lanka Tourism deepens reach in Germany

Friday, 15 September 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Tourism is conducting business to business meetings in four German cities starting from 12 September. This tourism promotional activity provides an opportunity to position Sri Lanka as a preferred destination in Asia. The travel and leisure industry of Sri Lanka serving the German market met with potential German outbound tour operators across Germany to establish new partnerships.

Sri Lanka has been a favourable long haul destination among German travellers for the last few decades. Jürgen Becker of BCD Travel in Cologne said that after travelling to Sri Lanka in the 1980s he was quite excited to go back next year and to explore the changes in the country, but after his experience back then, he recommends to visit Sri Lanka at any rate. European market continues to remain important to Sri Lanka as they are high spenders with a longer duration of stay.

The roadshow kicked off in Cologne on 12 September and will continue till 15 September covering cities namely Dortmund, Hannover and Bremen. This further widens the reach in Germany to the series of Road shows conducted in an early year which included Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Berlin. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Sri Lanka Ambassador in Germany, Honorary Consul General of Consulate of Sri Lanka in Cologne and Dortmund addressed the audience and shared the vision of tourism, the long standing relationship between the two governments and the strong democracy of Sri Lanka.

The destination promotional presentation made by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Managing Director Sutheash Balasubramaniam highlighted the diversity, authenticity and compactness to position Sri Lanka in the minds of German participants as a unique destination in Asia.

Jessica Weyers of Reisebüro Weyers said, “It is really an alternative for those who already know the Caribean Islands and South East Asia and the most important thing it is suitable for all ages.”

These positive endorsements from the participants highlight the potential which Sri Lanka has as a leading tourist destination which contributes immensely to the growth of the tourism sector.