Asian Tourism Fair Dhaka to boost Bangla Tourists to Sri Lanka

Scheduled to be held from 19-21 September

Sri Lanka is well poised to attract visitors from Bangladesh, capitalizing on the rising number of outbound tourists from the country.

“India records an average of 2,000,000 (2 million) arrivals from Bangladesh annually, and Sri Lanka also has the potential to bring in a large segment of travelers from this market. To facilitate this, the upcoming Asian Travel Fair sets the stage,” said Mohiudeen Helal, Chairman & CEO of Parjatan Bichitra, the event organizer of the ASIAN TRAVEL FAIR.

He noted that Bengalis frequently travel to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Nepal. However, Sri Lanka has yet to explore the Bangladeshi market extensively, leaving many Bengalis unaware of what Sri Lanka has to offer.

Helal further mentioned that arrangements have been discussed with Tourism Minister Harin Fernando and Priantha Fernando, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, to promote Sri Lanka in Bangladesh.

Helal announced the biggest ever Tourism Expo in Bangladesh, the 11th edition of the “ASIAN TOURISM FAIR,” set to take place in Dhaka from September 19-21, 2024. Ten countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkey, have participated since its inception. This year, the fair will also include Egypt, Malaysia, Singapore, and a few other countries.

Ashrafuzzaman Uzzal, President of the Bangladesh Travel Writers Association, revealed that Sri Lanka is a beautiful country worth promoting. This statement came after a Familiarization tour organized by Sri Lanka Tourism. Priantha Fernando, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, announced that Bangladesh is included in the proposal for the 67 Visa Free Countries submitted to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Fernando confirmed Sri Lanka Tourism’s participation in the Asian Travel Fair (ATF) 2024 at the International Convention City, Bashundara (ICCB). He noted, “Bangladesh is a very potential market, similar to India. We will actively engage in future promotions in Bangladesh.” He also encouraged the travel industry to participate in the ATF 2024 and use this opportunity to promote Sri Lanka in Bangladesh.