Sri Lanka Tourism to celebrate World Tourism Day down south
Friday, 27 September 2013 04:21
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The World Tourism Day (WTD), which falls today, 27 September, will be celebrated across the world this year as well, under the theme of ‘Tourism & Water: Protecting our Common Future’. The Maldives will be the host of this year’s official celebrations.
In order to mark the occasion, under the guidance of Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka Tourism has also made several arrangements in line with this year’s theme of the WTD.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka Tourism has organised a beach cleaning program covering the beach areas of Hikkaduwa, Bentota and Unawatuna. The program will start at 8 a.m. on each of the above mentioned locations on 27 September, with the participation of tourism sector stakeholders such as the hoteliers, school children, members from youth clubs, general public and Government officials.
On the same day, a tree planting program will also be organised in Bentota by Sri Lanka Tourism. The Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Bhaswara Gunaratne and Sri Lanka Tourism officials will participate in this event.
An art competition under the theme of ‘Tourism & Water: Protecting our Common Future’ will be held among the Hikkaduwa and Bentota schools. The idea of this event is to get the local community involved in the tourism sector and also pass on the benefits derived from the industry to the local community.
Apart from the above activities, the WTD would also be celebrated in the UVA, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, Western and Southern Provinces. The regional tourism bodies with the support of the Sri Lanka Tourism have planned to hold several activities in view of this. Among them ranks, activities such as organising school art competitions, photography exhibitions and programs on how to maintain clean water bodies.
Sri Lanka Tourism will be supported by the Bentota-Beruwala Tourist Hotels Association, Hikkaduwa Tourist Hotels Association, Unawatuna Tourism Development Society, National Youth Services Council, other tourism associations and local government authorities in these areas.
