The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has organised a fam tour for a representative group of Japanese tour operators and agents of 20 different companies in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan.

The main objective of the tour was to convey the massage of how Sri Lanka is a safe and an appealing destination for tourism with numerous holiday offers to choose from. The fam tour was organised on a request made by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan.

During the fam tour, the delegation visited places such as Negombo, Sigiriya, Minneriya Wildlife Park, Namal Uyana, Dambulla Cave Temple, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy, and Colombo, from 26 November to 30 November.

The Japanese delegation was highly impressed with the opportunity they were given to travel and explore around Sri Lanka and its exclusive holiday opportunities to offer the enthusiastic traveller and explorer.

Additionally, a B2B event was held with the local DMCs and their Japanese counterparts at the Hilton Colombo, on 29 November. Charmarie Maelge, former Managing Director SLTPB, Dushan Wickramasuriya, Director Marketing, and Kalpa Gunasinghe, Junior Manager and officer in charge of the Japan Market, represented SLTPB at this event.

Travel agents familiarisation tours have been identified as an important activity to invest on the trade, as they are the main point in promoting the country to the travel community who seek the advice of an agent in organising their tours.