$1.3 million charter from Italy - 1st win from Expo 2015

Minister for Tourism Navin Dissanayake and Alpitour Brands Head Fedrica Cagliero. Also  present is Niranjan Rodrigo Vice President Aitken a Spence

Sri Lanka's presence at the Expo 2015 took a head start with the Minister of Tourism and Sports Navin Dissanayake closing on a charter worth 1.3 million dollars for Sri Lanka Tourism with the market leadership tour operator in Italy- Alpitours. The deal will attract 8000 travellers in a business partnership with a blue chip company Aitken Spence Limited announced the commissioner General Rohantha Athukorala from the VIP media room of Expo 2015 in the presence of a packed press conference. 

Minister of Tourism Navin Dissanayake with the Commissioner General Expo 2015 Rohantha Athukorala and Charge D Affairs Italy Poshitha Perera

We thank Hon. Minister for helping us finalize the deal which in fact records the covering of the total costs we incurred on setting up the Sri Lankan pavilion at Expo 2015 in fact now it is profit positive on a ruthless P&L basis said the commissioner General for Sri Lanka.

The Partnership between Alpitours and Aitken Spence will be tied to a top end resort in the south of Sri Lanka which was architectured by an Italian designer whilst the overall cuisine will be done by a specially flown chef from Italy which will include customized animators to cater to the all inclusive guests that will be branded on a club med business model said Athukorala.

Media Gathering

The Vice President Aitken Spence Plc Niranjan Rodrigo commented ' the intervention from the minister of tourism is appreciative given that we have to agree the logistics of travel given the Sri Lanka airlines flies out of Rome whilst most of the targeted travellers will be sourced out if the North of Italy which is essentially the industrial side of Italy close to the Milano Expo 2015. The country head for Sri Lankan airlines for Italy Lalith Peiris said he will do what is required to support the partnership as with this we will give a new image to the country and this will make Sri Lanka become a fashion destination which will lead to many other club med brands entering Sri Lanka.

Section of the media gathering