Sri Lanka, Pakistan boost tourism ties

by Anjana Gamage

The Memorandum of Understanding signed this week between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to cooperate on Tourism and Archaeology is expected to open a new window of opportunity for both countries.

This is expected to maintain the momentum gained by the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Pact, signed in February during President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's official visit. The landmark visit took Sri Lanka-Pakistan ties to a higher level, with the signing of several important agreements.

"The broader objective of the Mou is to strengthen friendly relations through the promotion of mutual understanding of the people through expansion of cooperation in the fields of tourism and archaeology", Dr. P. Ramanujam, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism told the Daily News. The first joint working group met in Lahore on April 9-10 to discuss modalities of carrying out various proposals.

Many proposals had been discussed under broad headings including development of tourist tariff, promotion of tourism, training and exchange of experiences, investment in tourism sector and the preservation and exchange of experiences of archaeological heritages. Based on the discussions, the joint working group will work on an action plan targeted at both short and long term gains mutually beneficial to both countries.

At operational level, the joint working group will be monitoring the progress of the work carried out in the form of facilitating the exchange of tourist information and experiences, establishment of contacts between relevant parties mainly the private sector operators and exploring and activating joint collaboration on investment, education and technical training in the tourism and archaeology sectors as well.

The two countries are also exploring the possibility of increasing air links to facilitate tourism and business.

The sessions were followed by a meeting with the Minister of State for Tourism in Pakistan Sumaira Malik, where the emphasis was on translating policies into action and facilitating the participation of the private sector to realise the goals of the MOU.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Dr. Ramanujam along with the other members A.P.A. Gunasekera, Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Vipula Wanigasekera, General Manager of Sri Lanka Convention Bureau.