Press Release:
Brainstorming Meeting on Tourism, 12 July 2018, Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo.
Embassy of Nepal in Colombo organized a Brain storming meeting on Tourism on 12 July 2018 at Regency Room, Hotel Taj samudra, Colombo. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders of Tourism sector including Secretary of line Ministry, academicians, presidents/Chair persons of National level Boards and Bureaus of Tourism and inbound/out bound tour operators. Mr. Esala Weerakoon, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious affairs graced the occasion as chief guest.
H.E. Prof. Bishwambher Pyakuryal, Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka and Maldives delivered welcome address and expressed his expectation to draw some substantive recommendation from the meeting to uncover innovative ways to promoting bilateral tourism sector development. He also highlighted tourism strategy and vision of both Nepal and Sri Lanka and the ways to tie it up with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He further stressed the need to develop mechanisms to create inter-country packages within the region by revitalizing the goals stated in the regional network such as SAARC and BIMSTEC which will pave the way to utilize common resources, shared culture and common physical infrastructures.
It was followed by the address of Mr. Esala Weerakoon, Secretary, Ministry of Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs. Mr. Weerakoon wished the meeting every success and highlighted the warm and cordial friendly bilateral relationship existing between both the countries. He pointed out Education Tourism, Health Tourism, promoting Ramayana trial, Buddhist trails, Adventure Tourism being the sectors of tourism where both the countries could be mutually benefitted. He further stressed the need to increase people to people contact and create conducive environment by increasing awareness about the existing products, destinations and facilities offered to the people of both the countries. He opined the need to work jointly by showcasing the products/destinations and exchange of tourism delegation for the said purpose.
Mr. Dehan Seneviratne, Chairman, Sri Lanka tourism Promotion Bureau facilitated the open discussion session. He led the discussions and guided it in the structured way to propose a few key activities, set priority order along with time frame. The meeting concluded with an outcome document as a guideline to direct the activities of both countries for bilateral tourism development in coming years.
Ms. Dhana Kumari Joshi, First Secretary and Mr. Hem Bahadur Bhujel, Third Secretary also participated in the discussions.
The meeting was followed by lunch.
Embassy of Nepal
Colombo
13 July 2018