First Ever Sri Lanka Tourism Forum Held in Kazakhstan
21st November 2012
Coinciding with the state visit of H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa the President of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Sri Lanka Embassy in the Russian Federation in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, National Tourism Agency of Kazakhstan, major tour companies Gulnar Tour, TEZ Tour (Astana) and Travel System organized the Sri Lanka Tourism Forum in the scenic city of Astana. The event which is a first of its kind to be held in Kazakhstan was organized with the view of capturing a share of the country’s growing outbound tourism market.
Participating in the event were the key stakeholders of the Kazakhstan tourism industry including many of the leading tour agents and tour operators and top hoteliers from Sri Lanka.
Opening the event with his welcome speech Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris explained about the vividness of the Sri Lankan culture and how it enriches the tourism appeal of the island.
Officials Representing the Ministry of Tourism of Kazakhstan also made remarks regarding their willingness in partnering with Sri Lanka in enhancing two way tourism.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation who is concurrently accredited to the republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Udayanga Weerathunga made a breathtaking presentation in fluent Russian on the theme “Refreshingly Sri Lanka – Wonder Island” which captivated the hearts of the Kazakhstan audience. The Ambassador explained in detail of the most popular tourist excursions as well as the new but emerging destinations in the country. Several Sri Lankan hoteliers and tour operators also made introductions on their hotels and services.
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka from Russia and Eastern European countries have increased significantly during the past few years. As a direct result of the many tourist promotion programs conducted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia, the number of CIS region tourists visiting the country this year is expected to surpass 70,000. A similar tourism promotion event was organized in 2010 in Kiev parallel to H.E the President’s visit to Ukraine.
