(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka participated in the Ferien – Messe Wien 2018, Austria’s largest holiday and travel show held from 11-14 January 2018 in Vienna.
Sri Lanka’s participation in this event was coordinated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna, Austria.
The Ferien-Messe Wien is held at the beginning of the holiday season for holiday, travel and variety seekers, attracting more than 800 national and international exhibitors from over 70 countries and approximately 150,000 visitors each year.
Six companies from the hospitality, travel and wellness industry participated under the Sri Lanka Pavilion, namely: Siddhalepa Ayurvedha Health Resort, Araliya Green Hills Hotel (Pvt) Ltd, Ayubowan Tours and Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Express, World Travel Centre (Pvt) Ltd and Exotic (Pvt) Ltd.
The Sri Lanka Pavilion was inaugurated by Ambassador and Permanent Representative for Sri Lanka in Vienna, Priyanee Wijesekera on 11 January 2018 with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp in the presence of many invitees including Dr. Robert Luck, Regional Manager for South and South East Asia of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce and Professor Werner Zips, Deputy Director of Studies, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Vienna, who produced a documentary on Sri Lanka titled “Sri Lanka – Insel der Hoffnung” (Sri Lanka – Island of Hope) which was telecast on Austrian, German and Swiss television. Traditional Sri Lankan refreshments were also served.
A presentation titled “Sri Lanka Perle des Indischen Ozeans” (Sri Lanka Pearl of the Indian Ocean) was also made at the Travel Cinema on Thursday 11 and Sunday 14 January, which highlighted the country as an ideal tourist destination.
Promotion of tea from the Sri Lanka Tea Board was also conducted with tea tasting and handing out of samples of tea over the four days.
Several thousands of prospective travelers to Sri Lanka, media personnel, journalists and tour operators visited the Sri Lanka pavilion to obtain information on tourist attractions, Ayurveda and to taste Sri Lankan tea.
