The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) together with Viet Nam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA) organized a virtual awareness session to promote future tourism prospects in Sri Lanka to the outbound travel agents in Viet Nam, on 21 September 2021. The main purpose of holding the session was to make the Viet Nam travel agents aware of the tourism prospects of Sri Lanka because Sri Lanka is still not a well-known travel destination among the Vietnamese. The event was attended by more than seventy (70) outbound travel agents in Viet Nam.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Viet Nam Prasanna Gamage expressed his gratitude for all the participants and organizers of this timely awareness session and emphasized the enormous potential in promoting Buddhist cultural and Wellness tourism sectors in Viet Nam. Actg. Managing Director of SLTPB Madhubani Perea focused on the way forward for Sri Lanka tourism with Viet Nam as a key destination in Southeast Asia. Actg. Managing Director Perera also emphasized the importance of conducting substantial promotional activities and participation at various travel fairs in Viet Nam. A comprehensive presentation on "Destination Sri Lanka" was done by Mr. Director (Marketing) of SLTPB Dushan Wickramasuriya.
Representing VISTA, Vice President Phung Quang Thang conveyed his sincere thanks and appreciation for organizing the event for the Viet Nam travel agents. Vice President Thang commended the SLPTB and the Embassy for making Vietnamese agents aware of the wide-ranging tourism aspects and opportunities available in Sri Lanka. During the discussion, Viet Nam travel agents highlighted the need of arranging annual familiarization tours, connecting the travel agents of the two countries, organizing B2B meetings etc. to develop the people to people contacts, which are of utmost importance to enhance relations of the tourism sector between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam.
Vice President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) Nishad Wijetunga, President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Sanath Ukwatte, and Exco Member of the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises in Tourism (ASMET) of Sri Lanka Anura Abeywickrama also contributed with their useful insights, experiences in the trade and associated in the Q & A session. Vice President of VISTA Giang Bien and Junior Manager of SLTPB Shirani Herath delivered the vote of thanks. The event was moderated by Commercial Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ha Noi Prasadi Boomawalage.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ha Noi
23 September, 2021
