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From left: SLAITO Secretary Nishad Wijetunga, Sancharaka Udawa 2020 Chairperson Nushani Ediriweera Dias, Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators Association President Maahen Kariyawasan and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Events Director Prasad Daluwatte – Pic by Lasantha Kumara
By Charumini de Silva
The 10th edition of the ‘Sancharaka Udawa’, country’s premier travel and tourism exhibition organised by Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) will be held on 15 and 16 May at the BMICH.
This year’s exhibition is slated to be the biggest yet, where over 300 local and international exhibitors will be hosted, while expecting more than 10,000 visitors at the two-day event. The event will see the gamut of the country’s tourism products and services share one single platform, enabling them to expand and serve the industry better.
The travel expo offers a vital platform for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) sectors, while providing opportunities for industry stakeholders ranging from small, medium and large travel players to interact and build lasting connections with their respective target markets, as well as to effectively engage with the relevant Government authorities.
“For the past decade we have witnessed how Sancharaka Udawa has enhanced the industry by connecting operators with a large network of decision makers in each sector. It has become more important now than ever before that the various sectors of the industry work closely together to uplift Sri Lanka’s unique brand of hospitality,” Sancharaka Udawa Chairperson Nushani Ediriweera Dias told the journalists last Friday.
Despite the setback last year following Easter Sunday terror attacks, she said last year’s exhibition saw over 7,800 visitors with over 240 exhibitors. Sri Lanka Tourism is the main sponsor of the event.
Key features of Sancharaka Udawa this year will include engaging discussions, seminars and networking sessions.
As testament to the good rapport between the industry and its relevant government authorities, stalls will be provided free-of-charge to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Tourist Police, Central Cultural Fund, and others. The Universities of Colombo, Uva Wellassa, Kelaniya, Sabaragamuwa, and Rajarata have also been provided complimentary stalls, in order to encourage students pursuing careers in travel and tourism to partake in the exhibition and meet with industry professionals.
The fair will culminate with a gala fellowship dinner where industry newcomers will rub shoulders with veterans of the trade. An award ceremony will follow with prizes meted out to the best and most innovative stalls.
In order to ensure the success of Sancharaka Udawa 2020, the organisers have scheduled an elaborate series of marketing and advertising campaigns as well as islandwide roadshows to drum-up anticipation in the run-up to the event.
The event will provide the public a comprehensive first-hand insight into the tourism services and products available across the island.
