Lanka in China Expo with 25 travel agents, hotels

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), along with 25 local travels agents and hotels, has successfully participated in BITE 2013 (Beijing International Travel Expo) the largest international travel exhibition in China. The BITE 2013 was held at Beijing International Exhibition Centre, Beijing. This is the 10th consecutive year that SLTPB participated in BITE 2013. Meanwhile, with the ambition of making the Sri Lankan stall more attractive, the SLTPB also took steps to take a dancing group along with the delegation to entertain the participants. The Sri Lankan stall at the BITE 2013, was a real eye catcher in the event. Its atmosphere, with traditional dancing performances was exceptional among the other stalls and the Sri Lankan stall was one of the most photographed in the event. The Sri Lankan travel agents who participated in this event are expected to meet 1,000 of their counterparts, representing over 81 countries of the world. The Sri Lankan stall at the BITE was opened on Friday, June 21 by Ranjith Uyangoda, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the People’s Republic of China. Ms.Chen Hong – Vice Mayor,Beijing, Guo Jin Long – Party secretary, Communist Party of China, Wimal K. Arunampalam, the Minister Councilor – Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing also participated in this event. The BITE 2013 ended last Sunday and during the course of the event the SLTPB took steps to arrange Business Meetings, Exclusive Media Interviews and destination promotion presentations. Also, in cooperation with the Sri Lankan Embassy at Beijing, the SLTPB encouraged Sri Lankan businessmen to participate in this event. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has arranged to hold the promotion campaigns in major cities of China. These events will mainly consist of Web Marketing, Bus Branding campaign, Three Day Joint Promotion campaign, Trade FAM tours, Visiting Journalists Programme and Social Media Networking. Chairman of SLTPB Bhashwara Gunarathna’s guidance too has been immense during the SLTPB’s China based campaigns. By the end of 2013, the SLTPB expects 1.25 million arrivals from worldwide destinations and the expected turnout from China is 60,000 visitors.