A mega Sri Lanka Tourism Roadshow was held in Saudi Arabia this week (22 Apr), organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, Sri Lankan Ambassador Ameer Ajwad inaugurated the roadshow and welcomed a large number of tourism Destination Management Companies (DMCs) participating from both Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia at the exclusive Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Roadshow.
Ambassador Ameer Ajwad underscored that the initiative marked a significant new chapter in Sri Lanka’s tourism promotion in Saudi Arabia, as it comes after a six-year hiatus. He also pointed out that this year the “Sri Lanka Tourism Road Show” was taking place at the dawn of a new era as Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. This is high time to take stock of the current status of the tourism industry between the two countries and plan for the future enhancement of the industry, he said. Also highlighting the historical links between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, he urged DMCs of both countries to collaborate in marketing Sri Lanka tourism in Saudi Arabia, which is one of the world’s most highest-spending tourist markets with the expected outbound tourism of US$ 25.49 billion by 2027.
Ambassador Ameer Ajwad also launched a dedicated Snapchat account named “To Jannat Dunya” in the Arabic language for the promotion of Sri Lanka tourism in Saudi Arabia during the inaugural session.
Addressing the gathering, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Sampath Nissanka, provided an overview of Sri Lanka tourism and highlighted the recent remarkable boom of the Sri Lanka tourism industry.
Country Manager for SriLankan Airlines, Thusitha Wickramasinghe, highlighted the unmatched experiences that Sri Lanka offers and emphasized the growing connectivity between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.
A networking session between the visiting 20 Sri Lanka’s top Destination Management Companies and their Saudi counterparts took place during the Riyadh roadshow. Over 170 participants, including leading tour operators, travel agents, Saudi social media influencers and media personnel, participated in this event.
The second Sri Lanka tourism roadshow is scheduled in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in the city of Al Khobar on 24th April, fostering stronger tourism and trade ties between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Asst. Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Madusha Perera, and First Secretary of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh, Tashma Vithanawasam, coordinated the event. (Newswire)