Minister for Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando visited Australia from 10 to 18 July 2023 to undertake a series of tourism promotional events and meetings, to promote Sri Lanka as a travel destination for Australian travellers.
The Minister was accompanied by Chairman, Sri Lanka tourism Promotion Bureau Chalaka Gajabahu, Sri Lanka Tourism Brand Ambassador Sanath Jayasuriya, and Assistant Director, SLTPB Chami Lanka Gasnawage.
The Minister’s tour covered Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, where the Minister and his delegation had meetings with key private and public sector officials to advance Sri Lanka tourism promotion in Australia. In addition, a promotional and networking event was held in each city, targeted towards the Australian travel industry, with participants from key travel agents and tour operators.
The tour was coordinated in Australia by the Commercial Office of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne, with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, in collaboration with the High Commission of Sri Lanka to Australia in Canberra, and the Honorary Consul in Perth.
During the three events, the Minister and Chairman highlighted significant developments in Sri Lanka tourism, as well as the encouraging growth and resurgence of Sri Lanka as a premier global travel destination, following the challenges of the COVID pandemic and the recent economic crisis. Both the Minister and Chairman invited the Australian travel industry to explore the diversity of Sri Lanka which provides a vast variety of experiences for discerning travellers.
There was also a Q&A session during which the Australian tour operators and travel agents gave very valuable suggestions and proposals for further improving Sri Lanka’s image as a destination in Australia, and the panel fielded many questions from interested participants.
Highlights of the evening also included several exciting new promotional videos, showcasing Sri Lanka’s sights, sounds and colours, and Sri Lankan Airlines, the national carrier, as well as the newly launched “Pekoe Trail”, a 300-kilometer curated long distance walking trail through the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka.
Guests also enjoyed several dance performances, showcasing the vibrant colours and sounds of Sri Lanka’s traditional dance culture.
During his visits to the cities, the Minister also had several successful meetings with Deputy Premier for Western Australia Rita Saffioti who also holds the Tourism portfolio; the Ministry of Tourism for Victoria; QANTAS Airlines; Cricket Australia and the Melbourne Rebels rugby team, to discuss how to promote Sri Lanka tourism during games sponsorship and partnerships; Webjet, Flight Center, and other leading travel agents in Australia. During these meetings, the Minister discussed opportunities for cooperation, mutual exchange and promotion, and increasing Sri Lanka’s mileage as a destination in Australia.
The Minister also had a meeting with Sri Lankan-run travel agents in Melbourne, to discuss how they could help increase visitors to Sri Lanka and help tap the Australian market.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Melbourne
20 July 2023
