UNWTO willing to support Sri Lankan tourism: Jaufer

Chamber of Tourism and Industry Sri Lanka President A.M. Jaufer attended the 27th Joint Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for East Asia & the Pacific (CAP) and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CSA) hosted in Maldives from 3-4 June at Bandos Island Resort & Spa, Maldives. 

Countries from East Asia and South Asia were represented in the commission meetings with affiliated members and numerous international organisations.

The opening ceremony held on 3 June was enhanced by the presence of Abdul Yameen Gayoomas, the Guest of Honour and comprised some special and important events for the Maldives tourism industry. The ministerial conference on positioning tourism in a wider socio economic context was held in conjunction with the joint commission meetings.

According to Jaufer, Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General UNWTO and high level officials agreed to support efforts to improve sustainable development in Sri Lanka.

Meantime Sri Lanka delegates also had an opportunity to meet Stefania Abakerli, Senior Social Development Specialist of the World Bank and proposed to consider assisting to develop tourism sector in the north and eastern region of Sri Lanka which was severely affected for over three decades due to the war situation in the country.

Furthermore Sri Lankan delegates including Vasanth Senanayake, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Shriani Weeerakon, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Paddy Withana, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Malraj Kiriella, Director General of Sri Lankan Tourism and Hiran Cooray, President of Hotel Association and Chairman of Jetwing Hotels, participated in the UNWTO conference.

Jaufer met Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State, Culture and Tourism of India, N. Nazri, Minister of Tourism and Culture in Malaysia, Abdulla Jihad, Minister of Finance and Treasury in Maldives, Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, Minister of Tourism in Maldives and Kem Jeavan, Deputy Minister for Sports and Tourism Policy in Korea. Deputy Minister Vasantha Senanayake also met the business community in Male.