Sri Lanka President Highlights Potential for BIMSTEC Tourism

6 July 2023

The 67th Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) convention was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 6 July 2023. The event provided a platform for travel and tourism stakeholders from both countries to explore business opportunities and foster bilateral collaboration. It also highlighted the importance of the Indian travel market to Sri Lanka.

In his keynote address, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted the importance of tourism to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. The President also noted the potential of making the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) region one borderless tourist area that offers a wide diversity of sites and cuisines.

The event also highlighted the importance of the Indian travel market to Sri Lanka. Beginning 2022, India has emerged as Sri Lanka’s primary source market for tourism, accounting for 24% of the country’s total tourist arrivals.

Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, noted that strategic partnerships between India and Sri Lanka are vital to ensure the country's successful tourism recovery.

To further boost tourist arrivals from India, Sri Lanka has also proposed making the Indian rupee a tradable currency in the country.

 

Related links

Highlights from the 67th TAAI Conference in Colombo

Sri Lanka Banks On India To Aid Tourism Recovery, Calls For Borderless BIMSTEC Travel

Sri Lanka pushes for Indian rupee to be tradable in the country to boost tourism

The Government of Bangladesh has launched a fully automated trade clearance system, making the submission and issuance of...

Read More


Assam and Bhutan have pledged to strengthen their bilateral tourism ties by collaborating on smoother and more accessible...

Read More


The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) celebrated its 28th Anniversary on 16...

Read More


Nepal began its regular export of electricity to Bangladesh, by sending 40 megawatts (MW) of electricity through India's...

Read More


In a landmark move to enhance tourism cooperation between India and Nepal, the Indian Association of Tour Operators...

Read More


Reliance Power of India has signed a major agreement with Green Digital Private Limited, a Bhutan government-owned entity,...

Read More


The Adani Group of India and the Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) of Bhutan have signed a landmark...

Read More