Sri Lanka is continuing to attract global support for the quick revival of its tourism industry which took a heavy blow following the terrorist attacks last month.
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Asia Pacific Chapter summoned a meeting in Frankfurt, Germany last week to extend its support and solidarity to Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
The meeting was called by Regional Director, ICCA - Asia-Pacific, Noor Ahmad Hamid on the sidelines of IMEX, which is the world’s leading MICE event currently being held in Frankfurt, Germany.
Speaking to over 200 ICCA Asia Pacific members, Chairman, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), Kumar de Silva highlighted Sri Lanka’s resilience, stating that the country in general and the tourism industry in particular were fast returning to normal. He emphasised that every possible measure has been taken to ensure the safety of visitors and that the country was open for business.
De Silva focused on the fact that none of Sri Lanka’s famed tourism sites were affected by the recent events and that these places remained ready to welcome visitors.
SLCB which is the country’s apex convention organiser is making a determined push to establish Sri Lanka as a hub for MICE tourism in the South Asian region. Chairman Kumar de Silva called on the industry to work together to overcome the challenge of global terrorism and invited industry leaders especially in the Asia Pacific region to visit Sri Lanka and witness firsthand how the country has recovered and is ready to welcome visitors. He termed this turnaround as being ‘So Sri Lanka.’ Last week, United Nations World Tourism Organisation Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili called on the global community to offer its unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka Tourism by resuming travel to the country.