International Tourism Leaders’ Summit 2019 on Saturday

The fifth consecutive International Tourism Leaders’ Summit (ITLS) and Tourism Research Conference (TRC) will be held on 28 September at the BMICH, Jasmine Room Colombo from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. followed by cocktails.

It is organised by ITLS and ITRC, an initiative by Students of the Tourism Study Programs and the Alumni Association of Tourism Economics and Hospitality Management (AATHEM), Department of Economics, University of Colombo and Sri Lanka Tourism, Ministry of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs together with the other key partners. This is to coincide with the official celebration of UN-WTO World Tourism Day – 2019 on 28 September under the theme on ‘Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All’. With the main purpose of creation of a Constructive Policy-Industry Dialogue, several panel discussions are expected to be held with participation of eminent resource personnel representing UNWTO, ILO, Industry Associations and Other Related Organisations nationally and internationally. 

The major objective of TLS and ITRC is to create a constructive and meaningful dialogue on Global Best Practices in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management with the key stakeholders, industry experts, academia and researchers with the aim of analytically exploring the cogent strategies and result-oriented policy measures to elevate Sri Lanka Tourism and the touch of Sri Lankan hospitality to global heights. 

The International Tourism Leaders’ Summit (ITLS) and International Tourism Research Conference (ITRC) is mainly focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) in the global Arena. It tries to emphasise the Journey to 2030 in alignment of United Nations’ Global Agenda.The Conference will serve as a Tourism Knowledge, Innovation, Policy and Synergy platform bringing together diplomats, international organisations, policy makers, relevant ministries, cooperate sector, investors and the tourism and hospitality business sectors from the local, regional and global tourism stakeholders to determine the way forward for sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka. Academia to conduct scientific and technical research   

United Nations Sri Lanka UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer will be the expected Chief Guest and Jumeirah Group Revenue Operations Head Vladan Pantelic will be delivering the keynote speech on ‘Sentiment Analysis and Reputation Management’.