India’s travel agents association to convene in Colombo

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is organising its 68th annual convention in Colombo, Sri Lanka from July 6 to 9. The convention is likely to draw about 400 to 500 delegates, including media representatives.

The event is supported by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators.

TAAI’s annual convention will be held at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Photo: VSimage)

The opening ceremony of the convention will take place at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall while business sessions will be conducted in two hotels – Cinnamon Grand Colombo and Shangri-La Colombo.

The theme of the convention is Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives and will focus on promoting regional tourism besides positioning Sri Lanka as a preferred destination among Indian outbound travellers.

“Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has been resilient in spite of the economic challenges. India has now once again become the number one international source market for Sri Lanka and we hope that the island nation will receive more Indian tourists post our convention,” said TAAI’s president Jyoti Mayal at a virtual media conference on the event.

Sri Lanka received 19,915 Indian tourists in April alone, and 66,347 Indian tourists between January and April 2023.

India follows after Russia as Sri Lanka’s second biggest source market.

Apart from the convention, TAAI will be organising pre- and post-fam tours covering destinations including Bentota, Galle and Kandy. TAAI has partnered with four airlines including Sri Lankan Airlines, Air India, IndiGo and Vistara, to offer special round trip fares for its attendees, with prices ranging from 16,000 rupees (US$194) to 30,000 rupees.

“We want to promote experiential travel to Sri Lanka from India. These fam tours will help our members to understand different products on the same lines that they can promote among their clients,” added Mayal.

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