Sri Lanka’s booth showcased major tourism themes through visual displays that captured the culture, heritage and scenic beauty of the island. Posters, brochures, guide books, and other promotional materials, also in Korean, were available for visitors to view and read. Complimentary cups of Ceylon tea were served to visitors, which gave them a unique chance to savor the rich flavors of pure Ceylon Te

All major tourist destinations in Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, China and Japan were in attendance. The fair also attracted a number of international and national tourism organizations, including 119 local and 125 foreign exhibitors representing 44 countries, 16 of which were Asian nations. Over the four days, more than 100,000 individuals visited the fair which provided a prime opportunity for the Sri Lankan Embassy to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination for Koreans.

During 2012, Korean tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased dramatically by 48% in comparison to the previous year. In 2013, direct flights by Korean Air between Colombo and Seoul along with tourism promotional opportunities, like the BITF, were established. During BITF, Aitken Spence Travels engaged in bilateral discussions with Korean tour operators to establish commercial links. With these combined efforts and opportunities to showcase Sri Lanka as a prime tourism destination, Sri Lanka hopes to continue to enjoy a growth in the tourism sector and spread its culture and heritage to the world.(KH)