Academics to chart way forward for tourism

Tourism Leaders’ Summit and International Research Symposium 2017 in October

The third consecutive Tourism Leaders’ Summit and International Research Symposium will be held on 3 and 4 October at the BMICH in Colombo. This was announced by Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga at a media briefing in Colombo yesterday.

Associated with the Minister were University of Colombo Department of Economics Head Prof. Rev. W. Wimalarathana, University of Colombo Department of Economics Master in Tourism Economics and Hotel Management Founder and Coordinator Dr. D.A.C. Silva, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Kavan Ratnayake, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Chairman Prema Cooray and Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management Director General Buddhika Hewawasam.

Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management Director General Buddhika Hewawasam, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Chairman Prema Cooray, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara, University of Colombo Department of Economics Head Prof. Rev. W. Wimalarathana, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Kavan Ratnayake, University of Colombo Department of Economics Master in Tourism Economics and Hotel Management Founder and Coordinator Dr. D.A.C. Silva and Tourism Leaders’ Summit and International Research Symposium Secretary Kasun Abeynayaka

This year’s Tourism Leaders’ Summit and International Research Symposium will be held on the theme ‘Sustainable Tourism for Development: Way Forward for Sri Lanka’.

Sustainable Tourism for Development is the global theme envisaged by the UN-WTO for year 2017. This theme will be reviewed for a Sri Lankan perspective through deliberations on important topics for Sri Lanka Tourism during the Summit. While the International Research Symposium will be held on 3 October, the Tourism Leaders’ Summit will be held on 4 October with President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chief Guest.

The Tourism Leaders’ Summit and International Research Symposium are partnered by the Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs and Sri Lanka Tourism as the strategic partner. Nearly 1,500 local and foreign industry professionals are expected to take part in the main event while there will be a series of fringe events on the sidelines of this summit and symposium.

Commenting on the importance of Tourism Leaders’ Summit and International Research Symposium that will provide a solid platform to synergise and strengthen the efforts of tourism industry stakeholders, Minister Amaratunga said: “It is commendable that the Alumni Association of Tourism Economics and Hospitality Management (AATHEM) of the Department of Economics, University of Colombo has come forward as ‘Inclusive Partners’ at the ‘Tourism Leaders’ Summit and International Research Symposium’ in concurrence with the United Nations World Tourism Day celebrations of International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. This Summit will bring together industry professionals from across the world which will help raise Sri Lanka’s standing as a leading authority on tourism development.”

He noted that academic input for the development of tourism was not something that was on the national agenda in the past but now the time has come to involve this vital sector so that Sri Lanka can leverage it to deliver optimum results for the benefit of the economy and more importantly to the people.

“The time is ripe for academics to get involved in the tourism development process. Other countries in the region attract more tourists than us although we have the best product on offer. The country’s economy is now dependent on the success of the tourism industry in order to meet foreign exchange requirements. At the same time it must be remembered that the chief beneficiary of the success of this industry must be the ordinary people of this country. The academics can show us the way forward to achieve these goals,” Amaratunga said.

The Minister also urged the academics to use the Tourism Leaders’ Summit platform to come up with new thinking that will ensure both the sustainability and success of the industry.

University of Colombo Master in Tourism Economics and Hotel Management Founder and Coordinator Dr. Silva noted: “Symposium and Leaders’ Summit create a common platform in which academia, industry professionals and community can come together and design more practical and tactical strategies to develop Sri Lanka Tourism in the right direction on par with global tourism best practices and standards. More than 20 prominent scholars, diplomatic representatives and national tourism leaders are expected to participate at this event.”

The leaders’ summit will have timely, pragmatic themes for discussion:

Session 01: Diplomatic Corps

Tentative Topic: Dynamic Diplomatic Contribution for Sri Lanka Tourism Development

Session 02: National Tourism Organisations

Tentative Topic: How Best Sri Lanka National Tourism Policies and Strategies Meeting the Global Best Practices and Standards for Sustainable Tourism Development

Session 03:  Industry Leaders Dialogue:

Tentative Topic: Positioning Sri Lanka as One of the Finest Island Destinations in the World       

Furthermore, experts will discuss on:

Key Driving Forces for Future of Sri Lanka Tourism – 2020

Innovative Strategies for Supply Chain and Yield Management.

A series of fringe events will take place parallel to the summit and symposium:

(1)Awareness Programmes on Women for Tourism Development

(2)Tree-planting campaign

(3)Public awareness program on Sustainable Tourism

(4)Industry interactive network building cricket carnival

(5)Tourism Walk

(6) Tourism Quiz

(7)School Students Awareness Programme.