Defeating many countries in the region Asia, Australia and Oceania, Sri Lanka wins the third best exhibitor award at the International Tourism Fair in Germany. The selected criteria for the award are Design, activities, services and information materials. The impression of the pavilion of Sri Lanka was highlighted with the phrase, ''smiling people and traditional manners'' at the award ceremony. The Award was received by Mr. Rumy Jauffer, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. H. E. the Ambassador also participated at the award ceremony.
Sri Lanka has been taking part in the International Tourism Börse (ITB), World's Leading Travel Trade Show, since 1968. The Fair is being held annually in the first week of March. The ITB is one of the two most important Tourism Fairs that Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau participates annually. The participation of Sri Lanka at the ITB 2013 was facilitated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau with the fullest support of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Berlin.
The Sri Lanka pavilion at the ITB 2013 was inaugurated with the performance of ''pooja dance'' by Sri Lankan Students living in Berlin, followed by the lightening of the traditional oil lamp. H.E the Ambassador stated at the inauguration that Indonesia, being participant for the 45th time this year, became the partner country at ITB 2013 and Sri Lanka has more claims to be the partner country and the Government of Sri Lanka along with the assistance of the Tour operators and Hoteliers and other organisations related to Tourism industry in Sri Lanka should consider Sri Lanka to become the partner country in the near future, which will help Sri Lanka to target more tourist arrivals from the European region.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr. Rumy Jauffer, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, thanked H.E. the Ambassador Mr. Sarrath Kongahage and his staff for the eye-catching pavilion and their contribution to make the participation of Sri Lanka at the ITB 2013 a success. He also mentioned that 64 tour operators and hoteliers from Sri Lanka participated at the ITB 2013, breaking records.
A press conference was held by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Embassy of Sri Lanka together with Sri Lankan Airlines to the German journalists. Four awards were given at the ITB 2013; one went for the best journalist, Mr. Phillip Laage, whose article about Sinharaja rainforest appeared in 37 Newspapers in whole Germany. Three awards were given for the best Tour Operators based on the tourist arrival data from each company. The first place went for Meiers Weltreisen and Detours of Go Vacation Sri Lanka. The second best Tour Operator award went for TUI Group of Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt.). The third best Tour Operator award went for Thomas Cook of John Keels Holdings.
Brochures on eight different topics in German language and many other information materials were distributed at this Fair. Many visitors crowded at the information counter to collect the information materials, and they were pleased to receive the giveaways prepared by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. Traditional foods were served at different events at the Sri Lanka pavilion and at the press conference. Ceylon tee was served throughout the ITB 2013, which was a magnet, pulling many visitors to the Sri Lanka pavilion. Visitors had the possibility to win a cat's eye moon stone pendent clustered with ruby, which is of 850 Dollar value, which was sponsored by ZAM Gem (Pvt.) of Sri Lanka.