The first ever mega Sri Lanka tourism promotional event in Georgia was organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Türkiye, accredited to Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia on 27 September 2023, coinciding with the World Tourism Day.The event was organized with the support of the Honorary Consulate of Sri Lanka in Georgia, ALFAD Group, Jetwing Travel, Interco, Walkers Tours, Dilmah Tea and Turkish Airlines, the Sri Lankan community including the students in Tbilisi.
The event also marked the celebration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and took place at the courtyard of Radisson Red Hotel.
Preceding the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Alexander Khvtisiashvili and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Georgia, with residence in Türkiye, Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Georgian Levan Mikeladze Diplomatic Training and Research Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.
SRI LANKA in Georgia was an evening of sharing Sri Lankan traditions and culture through multiple media platforms, and promoting Sri Lanka’s tourism with a special focus on its cultural and natural heritage that are distinctly different from the Georgian tourism experience. Tourism is not just visiting places today, it is also a pathway to understand, respect and appreciate differences, which would eventually contribute to global peace.
While welcoming the guests to the event, Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Georgia Nino Makhviladze shared her firsthand experience in her recent visit to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Dissanayake presented an introduction to Sri Lanka highlighting a broad range of uniquely Sri Lankan experiences. The Guest of Honour at the occasion Deputy Head at the Georgian National Tourism Administration Medea Janiashvili delivered her remarks noting that this is the first event of this kind in Tbilisi, and emphasized the importance of promoting bilateral tourism cooperation in an effective manner.
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Affairs Khvtisiashvili was the special guest at the event. Over 150 guests from diverse backgrounds including the tourism sector, corporate clientele who are likely to seek Sri Lanka for their corporate events, staff retreats and personal holidays, media personnel, officials from the Georgian Foreign Ministry and Georgian National Tourism Administration, members of the diplomatic corps, Sri Lankan community and representatives of Sri Lankan students in Tbilisi participated in the event.
Representatives of leading Sri Lanka tourism agencies such as Jetwing Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Cinnamon Hotels and Walkers Tours presented their products through short video clips. Dilmah Tea, which is already popular in Georgia displayed a tea promotional video and Ceylon Tea was served to the guests. A chef from the Jetwing Hotel Group of Sri Lanka joined the event to provide an authentic Sri Lankan culinary experience.
In addition, a Sri Lankan photo exhibition depicting the country’s natural beauty, including wildlife, culture and heritage of Sri Lanka by two award winning photographers Ravi Ranasinghe and Dr. Umberto Binetti and a selection of paintings of renowned Sri Lankan artist Vasantha Perera were displayed at the venue.
Several traditional Sri Lankan dances were performed by professional Sri Lankan dancer Poornima Wickramarachchi together with students from the Tbilisi State Medical University. In addition, a spot fashion show of Sri Lankan batik and handloom clothing was presented by professional Georgian models.
Traditional and modern Sri Lankan and Georgian music and songs were performed by a Sri Lankan musician in Georgia Amila Jayasooriya and a British national Ellie Dawson.
The guests enjoyed Sri Lankan and Georgian cuisine. Sri Lankan and Georgian tourism companies also had B2B meetings. The event served as a unique platform to promote Sri Lanka as a promising destination among Georgian travel enthusiasts.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ankara
04 October 2023
