Sri Lanka Tourism on show at 13th International Tourism Exhibition in Shiraz, Iran

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran with the support of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) promoted Sri Lanka as a prime tourist destination at the 13th International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition held at the Fars Permanent International Fairground in Shiraz, the capital of Fars Province of Iran from 3-6 January 2024. The Exhibition is an integrated travel fair involving inbound and outbound travel, B2B and B2C meetings, tourism presentations, important discussions and special sales offices for travel products. This was the first ever tourism promotion event at which the Embassy participated outside Tehran. 

The Sri Lanka pavilion at the event attracted a large number of visitors and served to promote Sri Lanka as a popular travel destination. It created awareness on the recent developments of Sri Lanka Tourism among the Iranian public especially in the Fars province and international tourism industry participants. Several key dignitaries including the Iran Deputy Minister of Tourism Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hossein Abadi visited the Sri Lanka booth and showed great interest in destination Sri Lanka. 

On the sidelines of the Shiraz Tourism Exhibition, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iran G.M.V. Wishwanath Aponsu met the Deputy Governor for Tourism of the Fars Province of Iran Mohammad Farrokhzadeh. At the meeting, the Ambassador observed that the 13th Fars Tourism Exhibition-2024 is an important platform to expand trade, create new business links in the tourism industry, broaden cultural understandings, enhance people-to-people contacts and deepen the friendship that binds Iran and Sri Lanka. 

Highlighting the Forbes ranking “Sri Lanka as the fourth most popular solo travel destination in 2024”, Ambassador Aponsu said Sri Lanka is a unique and naturally diversified tourist destination of the world that provides multiple experiences. At the request of the Sri Lankan envoy, the Deputy Governor agreed to arrange a trade familiarisation (FAM) tour in the Fars province in 2024 for Sri Lankan travel agencies, appreciating the participation of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran at the Exhibition. 

In 2023, Iranian tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka have remarkably increased by 140% compared to 2022. With the planned tourism promotional initiatives and events by the Embassy, a significant increase in Iranian tourists to Sri Lanka for year 2024 especially during the Nowruz season-March (Persian New Year) is expected.  

The Embassy of Sri Lanka also utilised the Tourism Exhibition to promote Ceylon Tea and several other Sri Lankan agricultural export products including herbs and spices.