SLTB in BITE 2007 offers excellent opportunity for sellers and buyers

PARTICIPATION: Sri Lanka Tourist Board participated at the Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) 2007 which was held for the fourth consecutive year in Beijing at Beijing Exhibition Centre recently supported by the Beijing Tourism Administration.

There were over 800 exhibitors at seven different halls with the participation of 80 countries occupying an area of 30,000 sq meters. Minimum of 20,000 trade visitors attended the trade fair including hosted buyers and international trade visitors.

The main feature of BITE was that it was much focused on the business matchmaking programme, which enabled the members of the industry to pre- schedule one - to one-appointment sessions, to facilitate direct communication between buyers and the sellers.

The first two days of the Mart was opened mainly to the trade for such pre scheduled meetings and was opened to the public next day. This trade fair offered an excellent opportunity for both buyers and sellers to conclude deals to promote travels during the October Golden week in China.

The Sri Lanka Pavilion was located at a prominent place. This year, the main theme was the Tooth Relic Temple in Kandy. A replica of the temple was built as the Sri Lanka Pavilion. Other tourist attractions were also depicted together with the images of SriLankan Airlines.

Ambassador for Sri Lanka in China, Karunathilake Amunugama and officials of Beijing Tourism Administration officially opened the Sri Lanka pavilion. Walkers Tours, Ceylon Tours, Jetwing Travels, Lanka Sportreizen and SriLankan Airlines shared the Sri Lanka pavilion.

The travel agents were satisfied with this year’s trade fair where they were able to meet new travel agents and establish business contacts.

A 07-member dance troupe from Channa - Upuli Performing Arts Foundation was sponsored by SriLankan Airlines to perform at the main stage of BITE and also during the travel fair at the Sri Lanka booth.

They were well received by the Chinese visitors who gathered at the Sri Lanka pavilion in large numbers during the three day period.

Promotional material in Chinese language, giveaways and promotional bags were distributed among travel agents and the public who attended the fair.