Sri Lanka Tourism participated in the International Luxury Travel Market - France (ILTM) at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, from December 3-6.
The 17th edition of the ILTM 2018 was the biggest ILTM event with 1,880 exhibitors from 101 countries, an 8.5 percent increase year on year. Over 200 accredited luxury and luxury travel editors attended the show this year ensuring over 5,000 attendees at the show, out of whom 650 were first time attendees.
Sri Lanka’s participation in the travel show for the second consecutive year, featured up-market luxury hotel properties and boutiques and luxury service providers. Sri Lanka’s pavilion at the ILTM was opened by Ambassador to France, Buddhi K. Athauda.
The travel fair organiser Europe and Asia, Harry Fowls and David Todd, Sarangi Thilakasena, Assistant Director SLTPB, Damitha Hewawikrama, Third Secretary Consular of Embassy of France and travel trade representatives participated.
Sri Lanka’s Pavilion reflected the attractiveness of the destination with an added touch of luxury across all elements of the stall. Each participant was provided with wi-fi facility with promotional material. The video wall at the stand provided promotional videos of Sri Lanka. The Ceylon Tea boutique served Ceylon Tea to visitors. The stall was designed to showcase promotional themes as well as to highlight the luxury travel experience Sri Lanka has to offer to French travellers.
The show management process at ILTM provides each exhibitor and buyers with a personal list of appointments that is a mix between their own requests and those of the exhibitors list which are confirmed prior to the show.
The key trade participants of the show from Sri Lanka, including Anantara Resorts, Jetwing Hotels, Antiquities, Abercrombie and Kent, Mosvold Villa, Theme Resorts and Spa, Wattura Resorts, Authenticities, NKAR Travels, Tour Blue and Whittall Boustead met many buyers during the show.
Sri Lanka Tourism officials met members of luxury travel community on a daily basis.
The Ambassador to France was interviewed by travel trade magazine La Quotidienne editor Frederic de Poligny on Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape and future tourism prospects.