The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau represented by Chinthaka Liyanaarachchi, Head of China Desk together with the active facilitation of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou participated in the Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF) from 1st – 3rd March 2018. A Sri Lanka Tourism Roadshow was held on 5th March at the Hotel Hilton in Tianhe, Guangzhou to showcase Sri Lanka as a superior and premier travel experience. The event was graced by Ms. Liu Yu Mei, the Head of the Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality, which hosts the GITF.

Travel and Tour Representatives from fifteen companies and Sri Lankan Airlines participated in this year’s Trade Fair to promote Sri Lanka as an attractive and superior travel destination. Many visitors to the Sri Lanka pavilion commented on the aesthetically pleasing design of the pavilion and riveting dance performances of the Chandana Wickramasinghe Dance Troupe.

The GITF Awards night held at the Intercontinental hotel in the evening of 1st March saw Sri Lanka winning the “Most Attractive Tourist Destination” Award. This is the third consecutive year in which Sri Lanka has won an award at the GITF. In 2015 and 2016 Sri Lanka won the “Most Popular Tourism Destination” award at the GITF. These Awards reinforce the view that Sri Lanka is a perennial favourite among discerning travelers, especially in China.

The GITF is the leading professional travel Fair in South China featuring product focused workshops/seminars, which enable participating countries to showcase their unique tourism products and services. This year’s GITF, which had the participation of 53 countries drew unprecedented numbers from both overseas and mainland China.