Thai tourism chief to visit Sri Lanka

Meeting with Deputy Sangarajah of Thailand, Most Venerable Somdej Phra Dheerayanamuni

Minister of Tourism John Amaratunga meeting with Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Yuthasak Supasorn

Opening of the Sri Lanka Pavilion at THAIFEX 2019 – (from left): SLTPB Assistant Director Jeevana Fernando, Minister John Amaratunga, Senior Advisor to the Minister, Felix Rodrigo and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand Kshenuka Senewiratne

Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand accompanied by a group of outbound travel agents and journalists is to visit Sri Lanka shortly. The visit is to express solidarity with Sri Lanka and help revive the country’s tourism industry.

Thailand’s tourism chief, Yuthasak Supasorn and delegation will visit Sri Lanka from 27 to 29 June following an invitation extended by Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga during an official visit to the country last week. A Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed between Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote bilateral tourism during the Governor’s visit to the island.

Meanwhile the Deputy Sangarajah of Thailand, Most Venerable Somdej Phra Dheerayanamuni will visit Sri Lanka along with a group of 50 monks and 150 laymen from 28 June to 1 July accepting an invitation extended by Minister Amaratunga.

The Minister met the Deputy Sangarajah and two other high profile monks, Most Venerable Phra Thammasuthi and Most Venerable Phra Bhawana Khemakhun during his visit to Thailand where he declared open the Sri Lanka Pavilion at THAIFEX World of Food Asia – 2019 Exhibition which was held at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Bangkok.

Sri Lanka’s participation at the Exhibition was mainly focused on promoting inbound travel to Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan cuisine. Eight travel agents and 20 exporters of the SME sector occupied the Sri Lanka Pavilion. The Sri Lankan food display and tasting was a big attraction at the event.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau used the opportunity to launch a microsite on its main web page to promote Culinary Tourism in Sri Lanka. The launch was held at a media conference at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand, Kshenuka Senewiratne and Minister Amaratunga addressed the media during the conference. The Minister thanked the Royal Government of Thailand for not imposing any travel restrictions after the Easter Sunday attacks and noted that the first group of tourists to arrive in Sri Lanka after the tragic events was a Thai pilgrim group.