"Tourism Malaysia (TM) will conduct the first of a series of workshops, in mid November for Sri Lankan Travel Agents to sell the Malaysian destinations more effectively to Sri Lankan customers and serve their needs more effecienttly said Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board’s Director P. Manoharan.

Manoharan who was on a brief visit to Colombo said the usual practice hitherto has been for Travel Agents to purchase a holiday package from the Holiday Wing of an airline when a customer requests and this happens mainly due to the fact most them are ignorant about what the destinations have to offer.

"We will develop a variety of products to meet the customer needs and enhance the knowledge of Travel Agents staff about these destinations," he said adding that it is very important that you have a thorough knowledge about a destination when you are marketing it and showcasing destinations would really help in our promotions.

A team of Tourism Malaysia personnel headed by Ms Madhu Saliankar, Marketing Manager, Tourism Malaysia,India and South Asia (Sri Lanka and Nepal) will arrive in Colombo to train the local agents staff Manoharan said..

Malaysia Tourism will also organize FAM trips for the Travel Agents to familiarize themselves with the destinations are marketing on the successful completion of the training he said.

Manaoharan said that Malaysia is fast becoming popular MICE destination and the Sri Lankan corporates and we are vigorously promoting this market in Sri Lanka as there is great potential.

Some Sri Lankan corporates and leading organizations also have made plans to hold their events in Malaysia and Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) already held their AGM in Malacca last July it was a good breakthrough he said.