Mega Tourism Road Show held in ‘Green City’ of Ukraine

On 27 March 2013, the Mega Tourism Road Show of Sri Lanka continued its promotional campaign in the most visited city of Ukraine, with more than 1.5 millions tourist arrivals in 2012. Kiev, popularly known as the ‘Green City’ capital of Ukraine, is a city with a deep-rooted history. Today, Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural centre of Eastern Europe which holds major travel and tourism forums and travel and trade exhibitions in the region.

Ukraine is an erstwhile republic of the USSR became an independent state in 1991.The diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Ukraine goes back to the establishment of formal relations between Sri Lanka and the former USSR in 1955. Sri Lanka has maintained diplomatic relations with Ukraine during the period of the USSR.

After the collapse of the USSR, Sri Lanka entered into an agreement with Ukraine, ‘Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of Ukraine’ in 1993, leading to establishment of formal bilateral relations between the two countries.

The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa undertook a State visit to Ukraine from 29 June to 3 July 2010 at the invitation of President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. The visit of Rajapaksa to Ukraine was the first head of state or head of government level visit from Sri Lanka since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1993.  

On Wednesday, the promotional events were held in two locations; Ukraine International Travel and Trade Exhibition and shopping mall ‘Karavan’.

The Ukraine International Travel and Tourism exhibition (UITT) is the largest and most important travel industry event in Ukraine. It attracts key international travel industry players looking to promote their products and increase their presence in the Ukrainian market. Representatives from all over the world come to UITT travel exhibition to develop new international channels to increase the volume of tourism and investment in their respective countries. UITT is an effective way to develop trade and tourism, allowing visitors the opportunity to exploit the presence of 750 exhibitors and exchange ideas and experiences.

This year also, the Embassy with the collaboration of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau arranged the Sri Lankan stand and participants of the Sri Lankan stand were Concord Travels, Aitken Spence Travels, Jetwing Travels, Delux Holidays, Royal Holidays, Mt. Lavinia Hotel and Bernard Tours.

Amidst heavy snow fall of more than 20 inches, according to the Forecast Department in the State Weather Service, the largest amount to fall in one weekend since records began in 1889, and the Government declaring Monday a day off for all State workers in the capital, the Sri Lankan delegation led by the Ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga continued with the Mega Tourism Road Show in Kiev, Ukraine. On 25 March the delegation participated in the renowned Ukrainian Travel Forum.

On 25 March, Sri Lanka received another accolade by being invited by the organisers as the country partner of the 10th Ukrainian Travel Forum (spring). The Ambassador was the ‘Chief Guest’ at the opening ceremony which was attended by Arkady Maslov, founder and General Director of the Ukrainian Tourist Forum and representatives of about 70 countries and 30 hotel companies.

The Ambassador, who delivered the welcome note at the press conference, firstly thanked the country and the nation profusely for the excellent upbringing that was inculcated in him. The Ambassador said during the last six years diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Ukraine had strengthened and the visit of President Rajapaksa in 2010 had allowed the significant growth in trade relations between two countries.

Further, he stated tourist arrivals from Ukraine have marked a remarkable growth of 124% in 2012 whilst attracting more than 22,000 Ukrainian tourists. He also spoke about the opening of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport which has a passenger terminal equipped with state-of-the-art technologies in the field of aviation service.