Sri Lanka took part in the 37th International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), in Madrid, Spain from January 18 to 22.
The event, organized by IFEMA, brought together 9,672 tourism companies, institutions and bodies from 165 countries and regions making it the third largest tourism fair in Europe. Sri Lanka participated at this fair after a lapse of nearly ten years.
The Sri Lanka stall was opened by Minister of Tourism Development, Christian Religious Affairs and Lands, John Amaratunga, senior officials of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris, Alexi Gunasekera, officials of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Barcelona, Agustin Llana.
Ten leading private sector companies along with Sri Lanka Tourism collectively marketed Sri Lanka based on the common theme of vibrancy, authenticity and compactness as a destination.
The first ever Sri Lanka Tourism brochure in the Spanish language was launched by Minister Amaratunga at the Sri Lanka stand to strengthen the destination marketing efforts among Spanish travellers.
The Minister was presented a copy of the Spanish travel magazine ‘Excelencias’ which carried a six-page supplement on Sri Lanka. Minister Amaratunga said that participation in FITUR 2017 was a vital decision taken by Sri Lanka Tourism ably assisted by Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Paris.
“It would no doubt help to reposition Sri Lanka in Spain as a strategic hub for the Latin American region and it was a strategic decision to make a comeback at the travel fair after almost a decade,” he said.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) launched the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism’ in the presence of over 65 Ministers of Tourism on the side-lines of the FITUR.