Sri Lanka takes part in Milano BIT 2023

Sri Lanka participated in the Milano BIT 2023, International Tourism Exchange held at the Allianz MiCo, Milan Convention Centre from 12 to 14 February 2023. The Sri Lanka stall at the exhibition was visited by a significant number of tour operators, travel agents, travel journalists, social media activists and travel bloggers. Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando participated in the ribbon cutting at the opening ceremony of the BIT 2023 on 12 February 2023 and also attended the Ministerial Roundtable on Tourism, People and Territories: 2030 and Beyond, Tourism Industry and Sustainable Development Goals held on the opening day of BIT 2023.

During the event, Minister Fernando and the delegates met with the representatives of Neos and ITA airlines in Italy to negotiate to initiate direct flights to Sri Lanka. Minister Fernando and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Thisum Jayasuriya also had a meeting with General Manager and Director General of ASTOI, the Association of Tour Operators in Italy, which represents over 90% of the Italian tour operator market. The objective was to enhance the cooperation between Sri Lanka and Italian tourism industry players for sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka as well as promote the vibrant tourism industry of the island and Sri Lanka luxury resorts such as Earl’s Regency Kandy.