Fresh push for domestic tourism via ‘Visit Kandy 2011’

Highlighting the importance of the City of Kandy as a hub of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, Sri Lanka Tourism has made arrangements to conduct a Tourism Promotional and Trade Exhibition in Kandy with the ambition of further strengthening the Sri Lankan landmark in the global tourism sector.

This exhibition is scheduled to be held from 10 to 13 November on the fourth floor of the Kandy City Centre.

Due to the rapid development of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, the total number of the annual tourist turnout surpassed 598,000 by September 2011. Visit Kandy 2011 is only a single component among a number of Government strategies to promote Sri Lankan tourism in the global arena.

Kandy is exceptional in the Sri Lankan tourism sector due to the unique and rich historical and cultural aspects attached to the city and its surroundings. The UNESCO heritage city of Kandy, Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Tooth, the Kandy Perahara, Kandy Lake, Bahirawa Kanda, the Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya and the UNESCO heritage old buildings have been major tourist attractions from the times of colonisers.

Having all the above features at hand, Sri Lanka Tourism, along with the Ministry of Economic Development, Central Province Chief Ministry and Ministry of Tourism, the regional economic development agency and other Government institutions is now preparing to showcase the Kandyan signature to the world through ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’.

The outstanding cooperation of more than 75 leading hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related institutions in this event has equipped the Government to carry out this exhibition smoothly, through public-private cooperation.

During the exhibition, the visitors will be entertained by mesmerising Kandyan cultural performances, displays and many other events focused on Sri Lanka Tourism’s vision to promote the destination among international travellers.

‘Visit Kandy 2011’ is a public-private partnership programme of Sri Lanka Tourism to promote the city of Kandy as a global tourist attraction. It is organised by the Ministry of Economic Development, Central Province Chief Ministry and Tourism Ministry of the Central Province.