First Ever Sri Lanka Tourism Forum Held in Belarus
27th August 2013
Coinciding with the state visit of H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa the President of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Belarus, the Sri Lanka Embassy in the Russian Federation in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, National Tourism Agency of Belarus, major tour companies TEZ Tour (Minsk) and Rosting Belarus and Etihad Airways organized the Sri Lanka Tourism Forum in the scenic city of Minsk. The event which is a first of its kind to be held in Belarus 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 Belarusian 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 Sports and Tourism of Belarus 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 Belarus 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 Belarus 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. Subsequently a representative of Etihad Airlines which plays a leading role with respect to air connectivity between the two countries did a presentation on their positive experience with the islands rapidly expanding tourism market.
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 Kiew parallel to H.E the President’s visit to Ukraine. Statistics reveal that the tourist arrivals from Ukraine which were hovering around 400 in 2010 have risen up to 22,000 in 2012. This clearly indicates the success of the kind of programs organized and the appeal of East European tourists for Sri Lanka’s many attractions including its pristine beaches.
A familiarization tour for a team of 25 Belarus tour agents and tour operators to Sri Lanka was also finalized on the sidelines of the forum.
