‘Sri Lanka in Georgia’ unravel Sri Lanka’s potential for tourism in Tbilisi

The first ever mega Sri Lanka tourism promotional event in Georgia was organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Türkiye, accredited to Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 27 September, coinciding with World Tourism Day. The event was supported by the Honorary Consulate of Sri Lanka in Georgia, ALFAD Group, Jetwing Travel, Interco, Walkers Tours, Dilmah Tea, Turkish Airlines, the Sri Lankan community including the students in Tbilisi. 

The event also marked 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and was held at the courtyard of Radisson Red Hotel. 

Preceding the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Alexander Khvtisiashvili and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Georgia with residence in Türkiye Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on  tourism cooperation and an MoU on cooperation between the Georgian Levan Mikeladze Diplomatic Training and Research Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgia, and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka in Georgia was an evening of sharing Sri Lankan traditions and culture through multiple media platforms, promoting the country’s tourism with special focus on its cultural and natural heritage that are distinctly different from the Georgian tourism experience. Tourism is not just visiting places, it is also a pathway to understand, respect and appreciate differences, which would eventually contribute to global peace. 

Welcoming the guests to the event, the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Georgia Nino Makhviladze shared her first-hand experience in her recent visit to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Dissanayake presented an introduction to Sri Lanka highlighting a broad range of uniquely Sri Lankan experiences.  The Guest of Honour at the event, the Georgian National Tourism Administration Deputy Head Medea Janiashvili in her address said this is the first such event in Tbilisi, and emphasised the importance of promoting bilateral tourism cooperation in an effective manner. 

Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khvtisiashvili was the special guest at the event. Over 150 guests from diverse backgrounds including the tourism sector, corporate clientele who are likely to seek Sri Lanka for their corporate events, staff retreats and personal holidays, media personnel, officials from the Georgian Foreign Ministry and Georgian National Tourism Administration, members of the diplomatic corps, the Sri Lankan community and representatives of Sri Lankan students in Tbilisi participated in the event. 

Representatives of leading Sri Lanka tourism agencies such as Jetwing Travels Ltd., Cinnamon Hotels and Walkers Tours presented their products through short video clips. Dilmah Tea, already popular in Georgia displayed a tea promotional video and Ceylon Tea was served to the guests. A chef from the Jetwing Hotel Group of Sri Lanka joined the event to provide an authentic Sri Lankan culinary experience.

In addition, a Sri Lankan photo exhibition depicting the country’s natural beauty, including wildlife, culture and heritage of Sri Lanka by two award winning photographers, Ravi Ranasinghe and Dr. Umberto Binetti and a selection of paintings of renowned Sri Lankan artist Vasantha Perera were displayed at the venue.  

Several traditional Sri Lankan dances were performed by professional dancer Poornima Wickramarachchi together with students from the Tbilisi State Medical University. In addition, a spot fashion show of Sri Lankan batik and handloom clothing was presented by professional Georgian models. 

Traditional and modern Sri Lankan and Georgian music and songs were performed by a Sri Lankan musician in Georgia Amila Jayasooriya and a British national Ellie Dawson. 

The guests enjoyed Sri Lankan and Georgian cuisine. Tourism companies of both countries also had B2B meetings. The event was a unique platform to promote Sri Lanka as a promising destination among Georgian travel enthusiasts.