The 67th TAAI Convention and Exhibition that recently concluded in Colombo, Sri Lanka was a resounding success. Never in history has the President of the host country been a part of the Convention, as was the case this time. The Sri Lankan hospitality was at its best and they left no stone unturned in organizing a wonderful and memorable experience for all the delegates. The insightful and invigorating Business Sessions kept the audience captive as they listened in rapt attention to the suggestions and viewpoints of their industry colleague.
The inaugural function of the 67th Conference of TAAI commenced at the BMICH in Colombo, setting the stage for an awe-inspiring opening ceremony that left the audience captivated. The conference centred around the profound connection shared by India and Sri Lanka, showcasing the vibrant essence of Sri Lankan culture through a mesmerizing performance by the renowned Channa Upuli Dance Troupe. Nishad Wijetunga, the President of SLAITO, extended a warm welcome to the distinguished delegation. Both Jyoti Mayal, the President of TAAI, and Gopal Baglay, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, addressed the gathering, emphasising the significance of India-Sri Lanka relations in the context of tourism. The Chief Guest of the evening, His Excellency President Ranil Wickremasinghe, further reiterated the profound bond between the two nations with a brilliant speech that highlighted the awe-inspiring sights found in Sri Lanka.
The Session on India Tourism Vision 2047: A Transformed Landscape of Experiences and Connections witnessed an exciting discussion between Arvind Singh, former Secretary Tourism, Government of India; Madhavan Menon, Managing Director at Thomas Cook India Limited; Mr Nipun Agarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer, Air India; K.B. Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor – South Asia, Radisson Hotels Group and moderator Ashish Gupta, Consulting CEO, FAITH. Insightful presentations were made by Pieter Elbers, CEO Indigo and Tisum Jayasuriya, Chairman Sri Lanka Convention bureau. An interesting discussion on potential of aviation was moderated by Kapil Kaul, CEO and Director, CAPA India with panellists Amitabh Khosla – Country Director – India, IATA; Praveen Iyer – Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air; Rajeev Bhatia – Chief Commercial Officer, Amadeus India; Vinay Malhotra – Head of Global Sales, Indigo and Richard Nuttall – CEO, Sri Lankan Airlines.
A brilliant evening to cap off an enthralling Day 2 was held at the Cinnamon Grand. Following a Sri Lanka Theme, the event was named “an evening in Colombo” and featured captivating dance performances, oriental music and delicious meals & drinks. The evening was graced by the presence of Hon. Minister of Tourism & Lands Mr. Harin Fernando and the Chief Guest Hon. Speaker Mr. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, who both gave exhaustive speeches highlighting the importance of India market for Sri Lanka. Besides cultural affinity, both countries share crucial tourism ties too.
Sharing her thoughts, Mrs. Jyoti Mayal said, “For us it was important to stick to our commitment of holding the Convention in Sri Lanka. I personally believe that Sri Lanka as a destination has much to offer and as a neighbouring country, we must do everything in our power to help the country come out of the economic crisis. India's relationship with BIMSTEC countries presents a significant opportunity for enhancing tourism ties and we all must work upon it. We are thrilled to be hosted by Sri Lanka and completely overwhelmed by the warm response that we have received. I am confident that this Convention will prove to be a milestone in the India – Sri Lanka relations and also the country’s tourism graph.”
