SL to host French travel agents’ SNAV Congress from Oct.30 to Nov.5

The Syndicat National des Agences de Voyages (SNAV), now referred as Les Entreprises du Voyage (LEV) will be staged in Sri Lanka from October 30 -November 5, at BMICH (Colombo). This is a significant landmark for Sri Lanka, since this the first time in 10 years that the congress is to be held at a long haul destination.

Created in 1944, LEV is a professional organization with the membership of 5,700 state approved travel agencies and tour operators of France representing more than 5,000 sales points in France. 
On a European level, the LEV is a member of the ECTAA (European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations). Its mission is primarily to defend the profession, and in particular its negotiations with public authorities (national and European) including other stakeholders, such as Airlines, rail 
or sea.
The LEV Congress is an annual event held in a top tourism destination where over 300 delegates, majority of them being outbound travel agents in France, attend the congress. 
Sri Lanka Convention Bureau together with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and all private sector tourism stakeholders will have the opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka’s unique tourism products and services to the French market. 
In a bilateral aspect, France is one of the key countries for Sri Lanka in tourism and travel standing at over 86,126 French travelers to the country in 2015. 
The exposure to be received from this prestigious event to Sri Lanka, will consolidate and strengthen the bilateral bonds of friendship between the people of Sri Lanka and France.

According to Paddy Withana, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, hosting the French Conference in Sri Lanka has a positive impact on the country as the agents will share their experience of Sri Lanka with their customs and promote Sri Lanka as a great tourist destination. 
Over 300 French travel agents are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka for this historic event and they will be visiting Negombo, Colombo with excursions to the cultural triangle during the six days of the Congress.