SL woos tourists from Vietnam

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) together with Vietnam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA) organised a virtual awareness session to promote future tourism prospects in Sri Lanka to the outbound travel agents in Vietnam, on 21 September. 

The main purpose of holding the session was to make the Vietnamese travel agents aware of the tourism prospects of Sri Lanka because Sri Lanka is still not a well-known travel destination among the Vietnamese. The event was attended by more than 70 outbound travel agents in Vietnam.  

In his opening remarks, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Prasanna Gamage expressed his gratitude to all the participants and organisers of this timely awareness session and emphasised the enormous potential in promoting Buddhist cultural and wellness tourism sectors in Vietnam. SLTPB Actg. Managing Director of Madhubani Perera focused on the way forward for Sri Lanka tourism with Vietnam as a key destination in Southeast Asia. 

Actg. Managing Director Perera also emphasised the importance of conducting substantial promotional activities and participation at various travel fairs in Viet Nam. A comprehensive presentation on ‘Destination Sri Lanka’ was done by SLTPB Director (Marketing) Dushan Wickramasuriya.  

Representing VISTA, Vice President Phung Quang Thang conveyed his sincere thanks and appreciation for organising the event for the Vietnamese travel agents. Vice President Thang commended the SLPTB and the Embassy for making Vietnamese agents aware of the wide-ranging tourism aspects and opportunities available in Sri Lanka. During the discussion, the Vietnamese travel agents highlighted the need of arranging annual familiarisation tours, connecting the travel agents of the two countries, organising B2B meetings, etc. to develop the people-to-people contacts, which are of utmost importance to enhance relations of the tourism sector between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. 

Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) Vice President Nishad Wijetunga, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte, and Association of Small & Medium Enterprises in Tourism (ASMET) of Sri Lanka Exco Member Anura Abeywickrama also contributed with their useful insights, experiences in the trade and associated in the Q & A session. VISTA Vice President Giang Bien and SLTPB Junior Manager Shirani Herath delivered the vote of thanks. The event was moderated by Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ha Noi Commercial Secretary Prasadi Boomawalage.