The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam arranged the first-ever participation of Sri Lankan travel agents at the Viet Nam International Travel Mart (VITM), which was held at the Hanoi International Exhibition Center (ICE) from 13th to 16th April 2023. The Travel Fair was organized by the Viet Nam Tourism Association (VITA).
Representing travel agents from Sri Lanka, the two giants in the industry, Aitken Spence and Walkers Tours also participated the fair, who received a very encouraging response from the visitors.
The Sri Lanka Pavilion was ceremonially opened by Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam. Mrs. Shirley Marguerite Hopman-Aluwihare, Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Ho Chi Minh City also graced the event with her presence.
Sri Lanka Pavilion attracted a lot of attention, and more than 5,000 Vietnamese visitors visited the booths and the travel agents had meetings with over 50 outbound travel agents in Viet Nam, who showed interest to bring Vietnamese travelers to Sri Lanka.
Buddhist tourism, nature tourism and wild life were the key areas of interest and not having a direct flight between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam is a main hindrance to promote tourism between the two countries. Especially the elderly community who are interested in Buddhist pilgrims in Sri Lanka, fined it difficult to travel with longer transit times.
While the Embassy of Sri Lanka has already started discussions with Bamboo Airways, Viet Jet Airlines and Viet Nam Airlines on the possibility of launching a direct flight between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, a meeting was convened during the fair between Bamboo Airlines and Aitken Spence in order to discuss this matter further.
During the fair, Sri Lanka pavilion was promoted as a travel destination through playing Sri Lanka tourism videos, displaying Sri Lanka tourism promotional banners and standees, distributing tourism brochures, and selling travel packages. Ceylon Tea was also served to the visitors.
Ms. Bien from Pat Tours, a Vietnamese travel agent sending Vietnamese travelers to Sri Lanka in collaboration with few more Vietnamese travel agents also cooperated with the Embassy in promoting Sri Lanka as a promising destination.
Considering the facts that, 10 million Vietnamese travelers have travelled out of the country in 2022, and the increasing middle-income families who can afford for travelling and seek new destinations to travel, Viet Nam is a compelling, potential market to promote tourism. Awareness raising and promotion are crucial in bringing positive and tangible results in the future.
Ms. Kishani Wickramasinghe, Minister Counsellor (Commercial) of the Mission coordinated Sri Lanka’s successful participation at the VITM 2023.
