Tourism Promotions Bureau participates in BITE 2013

Tuesday, 25 June 2013 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The 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. 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 BITE 2013 was a real eye catcher at 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 at the event. The Sri Lankan travel agents that participated in this event met 1,000 of their counterparts, representing over 81 countries of the world. The Sri Lankan stall at the BITE was opened on 21 Friday by Ranjith Uyangoda, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the People’s Republic of China. Chen Hong – Vice Mayor, Beijing, Guo Jin Long – Party Secretary, Communist Party of China and Wimal K. Arunampalam, the Minister Councillor – Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing also participated in this event.

BITE 2013 was held until 23 June 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. As per the leadership and advice of Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, 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 program and social media networking. Chairman of SLTPB Mr.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. Sri Lanka hotels and travel agents that participated were MAC Travels, Amaya Resorts & Spas, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Life Leisure Holidays, Lanka Sportreizen, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, Exotic Holidays International, Aitken Spence Travels, Blue Lotus Tours, Seasons Travels, NKAR Travels & Tours, Ceylon Roots, Ceylon Legend Travels, Butterfly Vacations, Get into Lanka Travels and Tours, Absolute Sri Lanka, George Steuart Travel, Aitken Spence Hotels, Royal Holidays, Mount Lavinia Hotels Group, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Tangerine Tours, Exotic Global Holidays and The Kingsbury.