Webinar on “Opening Sri Lanka for Indian Travelers”

After much speculation and carefully revised health protocols, Sri Lanka Tourism is taking progressive measures to rejuvenate the Tourism sector amidst the current pandemic situation. As an effort to boost tourist arrivals from India, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, along with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, organized a virtual awareness session on opening Sri Lanka for Indian travellers. The online session was joined by more than 280 prominent Indian outbound tour operators / travel agents and journalists from reputed newspapers, Sri Lankan Airlines, and representatives of key tourism associations of Sri Lanka also participated in the Webinar.

Dr. Valsan Vethody, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai made the opening remarks. He highlighted that the Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka is beginning to see an opportunity to get back on its feet and revive itself due to the accelerated e vaccination program. He further mentioned that the Indian government has considered opening Sri Lanka to the Indian travelers as a positive step and invited all the stakeholders in India to join this endeavor. Representing the Sri Lankan participants, Ms. Madubhani Perera, Acting Managing Director/ Director PR of SLTPB, Dushan Wickramasuriya, Director Marketing of SLTPB, Sanath Ukwatte, President of Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), Nishad Wijetunga, Vice President of Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), and Mervyn Fernanodupulle Past President of Association of Small & Medium Enterprises in Tourism (ASMET) also contributed with their respective speeches. The Indian Agents were updated on crucial points such as Airline connectivity, adhering to health guidelines, traveling within the Bio Bubble and arranging accommodation at safe & secure hotels in Sri Lanka.

Ms. Madubhani Perera expressed that India is a very important source market for Sri Lanka. She mentioned that Sri Lanka Tourism has a target of achieving USD 10 billion income to the country, and a total of 7 million tourist arrivals by the year 2025, which is a challenging task due to the current pandemic situation impacting global tourism. Sri Lanka Tourism is taking all the necessary steps to achieve this target by 2025 or even to a closer level, with the planned promotional activities including the Global Campaign which is expected to be launched early next year.

Dushan Wickramasuriya, Director Marketing also made a comprehensive presentation to the audience by highlighting the importance of the tourism industry to Sri Lanka which has contributed 4% to 5% to our GDP.