SL to celebrate World Tourism Day 2020 in Kandy

• Prime Minister to kick off series of events under this year’s theme ‘Tourism and Rural Development’

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and the Department of Trade Commerce and Tourism of Central Provincial Council have organised a three-day special program and several other events to celebrate the World Tourism Day 2020 in Kandy. 

World Tourism Day was declared by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to promote sustainable, responsible and universally accessible tourism. It is commemorated worldwide on 27 September every year. 

This year’s World Tourism Day will be celebrated under the theme ‘Tourism and Rural Development’, focusing on fostering a people-centric, technology-driven and sustainable tourism sector from the grass root level, to achieve overall economic development in the long run. 

Tourism is an important driving force for pro-poor economic growth and poverty alleviation. It serves as a catalyst for job creation for youth, women, minorities, indigenous people and other marginalised groups, and as a stimulant of infrastructure and public service development in rural areas.

Therefore, this year’s World Tourism Day aims to incorporate key provisions of the Tourism Strategic Action Plan 2020-2022, by taking measures to upgrade community-based tourism products, improve strategic marketing of tourism products and enhance the capacities of tourism based-SMEs. Such initiatives are expected to encourage rural industries and communities to exploit opportunities available in tourism-based niche markets. 

The official ceremony will commence at 9 a.m. on 27 September at the Kandy City Centre, under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha and Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga with the presence of other officials from Sri Lanka Tourism.

The highlights of World Tourism Day 2020 program are as follows:

Main celebration: 27 September from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Kandy City Centre (KCC). This event is jointly organised by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Central Provincial Council 

Industrial Exhibition: 25, 26 and 27 September from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at KCC to exhibit all local tourism industries in Central Province. There will be 80 stalls organised by the Central Provincial Council

Food Festival: 25, 26 and 27 September at Kandy City Centre, organised by the Central Provincial Council

Kandy Cultural Event: 25, 26 and 27 September at KCC under the theme ‘Connecting Local Wisdom and Heritage for People-Centric Tourism Development’ organised by the Central Provincial Council

Culinary Exhibition with tea heritage and spices: 25 September from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the theme  ‘Explore the Land of Diversity with Tea Heritage and Sri Lankan Spices’ organised by the Central Provincial Council

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Department of Trade Commerce and Tourism of Central Provincial Council are also conducting a training program targeting rural industry entrepreneurs, tourism supply chains and students in the Central Province. 

This aims to enhance the capacities of tourism-based SMEs, improve skills of tourism supply chains and encourage students and youth in the central province to engage in tourism-based industries to make use of opportunities available in the tourism sector. 

Other activities

Training for rural industry entrepreneurs, tourism supply chain and students in the Central Province jointly organised by SLTDA and Central Provincial Council

Pre-training on 17-19 September 

Two sessions on parallel to the celebration (25 and 26 September at KCC

Post sessions for school children (15 October – 10 November; 3 programs for 3 districts in CP

Post sessions for industry entrepreneurs, tourism supply chain (20 sessions) (venue will be nearest training centre to the entrepreneurs)

Tourism Leaders’ Summit (TLS) 2020: 27 September from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Kandy City Centre on ‘A Way Forward for Sustainable Tourism Development: Knowledge, Innovation, Policy, Synergy’ organised by Department of Trade Commerce and Tourism of Central Provincial Council and University of Colombo

International Tourism Research Conference (ITRC): 27 September from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at KCC on ‘Crisis Management and Resilience Building for Sustainable Tourism Development’ organised by Department of Trade Commerce and Tourism of Central Provincial Council and University of Colombo

Inter-Provincial Networking session: On 27 September from 4 to 5 p.m. at KCC 

The Department of Trade Commerce and Tourism of Central Provincial Council will also organise the following competitions in light of the World Tourism Day celebration,

Inter-School Quiz/Poster/Video for promotion of Central Province tourism 

Competition for selection of the ‘Best Tea Trails Hikes’

Competition for selection of ‘Best Tea Tourism Story’

Competition for selection of ‘Best Tourism Slogan’ for the Central Province 

Competition for selection of ‘Best Central Province Innovative Tour Package’