Host of events mark World Tourism Day
 

BY ANJANA Gamage

THE World Tourism Day (WTD) which falls on Tuesday will be marked by a host of events at the world heritage site in Sigiriya, Tourism Minister Secretary Dr. P. Ramanujam told a press conference at the Tourism Ministry yesterday.

According to the Secretary, the State of Qatar will host this year's WTD on Tuesday on the theme " Travel and Transport: From the Imagination of Jules Verne to 21st Century Reality".

The WTO General Assembly at its 15th session in Beijing, China (2003) designated Qatar to be the first WTD host country in the Middle East.

"Although there is an increase in tourist arrivals, a majority visit only the Western Province. We want to change that attitude. We want them to visit Central Cultural Triangle areas which have not been popularised," Dr. Ramanujam said.

"Therefore we thought to move into a rural setting with the back drop of our archaeological heritage to develop a heritage tourism model village. Sigiriya was thought to be the launching pad for this purpose. Sigiriya is a heritage village popularly known among local and foreign tourists," he said.

Tourism Ministry Additional Secretary George Micheal said unlike in the early stages of tourism in Sri Lanka, today's tourists are discerning and substantially educated with a high spending capacity.

Therefore tourism is a lucrative business and for a Government it is a very important economic activity immensely supporting the country's economy with foreign exchange and employment and rural development. To ensure spill over effects abundantly to the grassroots level our world renowned heritage has opened a new window," he said.

What is required is to strengthen friendly linkages among the village community, tourists and industry partners to ensure an uninterrupted flow of financial and social benefits to the local community. Celebrating World Tourism Day in Dambulla-Sigiriya signifies this noble objective", Michaeal said.

According to the Additional Secretary, it is expected to launch a clean and green programme on World Tourism Day along the Inamaluwa - Sigiriya road. Schoolchildren, environmental groups, village community and the tourists are invited to participate in this Shramadana campaign.

The Tourism Ministry has already installed five hoardings along the Inamaluwa-Sigiriya Road with a message to make the public aware on the importance of tourism for their livelihood.