100-strong travel delegation from Sri Lanka to participate at ATM

Heading a team of over 100 travel trade professionals including public and private sector officials, HE Mustafa will be meeting key officials from the regions travel trade industry to underline Sri Lanka's potential as a tourist destination as well as address a press conference to announce Sri Lanka's new brand identity.

"Middle East travellers visiting Sri Lanka surged by 24% in 2008. The year 2008 has been one of promising growth, driven by heightened consumer awareness in the Middle East and we hope to sustain this in 2009 and beyond."

said Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori, Middle East Director of SLTPB.

Ms. Al Mansoori noted that proximity, declining costs of travel, changing lifestyle patterns, consumer friendly travel facilities, and good child care and maid facilities for Arabs travelling with families have been key growth drivers boosting tourism to Sri Lanka.

Cultural attractions, entertainment, shopping, and dining are some of the factors that draw modern day Arab travellers to their preferred destinations and Sri Lanka offers a good product that scores on all counts and is less than four hours flying time away from the Gulf.

Sri Lanka's pavilion at the event will accommodate several co-participants that will be exhibiting under the SLTPB umbrella to present a strong and unified image of the island nation to the regional and international travel community who will be present in large numbers at ATM.

ATM is the most established and largest travel trade event of its kind in the Middle East region.

The high quality and varied travel sector representation guarantees that ATM is an extremely important exhibition for those wishing to enter or do business with the region or those wishing to meet existing customers.

In order to stand out and make an audio visual impact at the event, SLTPB will be flying in a special dance troupe from Sri Lanka. Visitors will also have the opportunity to sample Sri Lankan hospitality on stand which will provide alluring glimpses of the island nation.