High-profile delegation from Holland arrives for familiarisation visit

The delegation poses with Tourism State Minister Arundika Fernando

The delegation being welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport

A delegation from Vereniging van Klein-schalige Reisorganisaties (VVKR), the Small and Medium Tour Operators Association of The Netherlands, arrived in Sri Lanka on 2 December, following an invitation from Sri Lanka Tourism. 

Upon their arrival they were afforded a warm welcome featuring a distinguished gathering, and also had the opportunity to witness a cultural performance. The delegation was in Sri Lanka until 8 December. 

The delegation consisted of six members headed by the Chairman of the association Antonie Brinkman, Mimpi Reizen travel agent Arielle de Wit, Sri Lanka op reis travel agent Carolien Halm, Singha Reizen travel agent Andre Franciscus Ladenius, Vakantieduiker travel agent Iduna ter Schegget and journalist Wilhelmina Maria Van Rooijen. The association’s tourism committee members were also able to take part in a familiarisation tour organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to get a better description of the destination and the natural and cultural resources it has to offer. 

A special meeting was arranged with Tourism State Minister Arundika Fernando to discuss strategies which Sri Lanka can initiate to attract more Dutch travellers. During the meeting, Dutch Heritage sites in Sri Lanka were highlighted for tourism promotion. As of November, tourist arrivals from the Netherlands have been recorded at 36,135, registering a decrease of 31.6 % compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.