The Press launch of Sancharaka Udawa 2014 was held on yesterday 12th May 2014 at Monara Restaurant of Sri Lanka Tourism & Hotel Mgmt. Institute, with the participation of many industry members, local media and travel industry stake holders. The head table of the press conference was represented by Dr. D.S. Jayaweera – Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr. Rumy Jauffer - Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr. Mahen Kariyawasam -SAITO President, Mr. Harith Perera- SLAITO, Mr. Ziyan Ameen- President SLAPCEO, and Mr. Nilmin Nanayakkara – Immediate Past President SLAITO.

Sancharaka Udawa 2014 exhibition & convention is an important annual event for all stakeholders engaged in the tourism industry. Be it a hotel of different size or scale, a services provider of different thatcher, or a supplier with diversity the Sancharaka Udawa 2014 is an opportunity, which house their needs and solutions under one roof.

Better than before, this year’s event held for the 4th consecutive year on 27th and 28th of June 2014 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre. It will consist over 200 stalls and a special pavilion of outbound tourism service providers. Sancharaka Udawa 2014 is organized by Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) together with Sri Lanka Tourism to bring together a wide network of personnel across the industry. It is the only gathering of this nature in Sri Lanka - since its inception in 2011.

Concurrently the general membership of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound tour Operators (SLAITO) will hold their Special General Meeting on 27th June 2014 at 9.00 am at the same venue. This will ensure the attendance of key players in the Tourism Industry at Sancharaka Udawa 2014.

According to the organizers the event is to provide opportunities for those less exposed to mainstream tourism creating a platform for small and medium service providers to network and build vital links with the tour operators and enter the wider spectrum of the tourism industry. The expected benefits of this endeavor will be a substantial increase in transportation related logistics, accommodation, and resource of persons with foreign language skills, and entertainment activities.

For those intending to join or invest in the industry there will be many incentives. A few state banks will provide advice and also offer attractive interest rates on loans. An insurance company will also offer consultations on health and safety insurance related to tourism. This year the specialty will be that the event will be held on two days and will be opened to the industry only on the 1st day (27th June from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm) and them onwards will be open to the public till 8.00 pm) and on the second day 28th Saturday the show will be open to all from 10.00 am to 08.00 pm. This year accommodation and service providers from South India and Maldives will also be invited to take part giving it an international flavor.