World’s most travelled person identifies Lanka as unique destination
Rasika SOMARATHNA
The worlds foremost traveller Prof. Orhan Kural, identified Sri Lanka
without conflict, as one of the top destinations for Globe trotters.
Kural who hails from Turkey has been to 190 countries travelling over
900,000 km across the Globe.
Prof. Orhan Kural |
He believes that Sri Lanka has all the necessary ingredients to be
recognised as one of the foremost destinations in world tourism.
Addressing the media during his third visit to the country, Prof.
Kural admitted that he had a soft spot for Sri Lanka which was
influenced by the local culture, diversity of nature, traditional
hospitality etc. which made the country a unique destination for
travelers.
As the world’s most travelled person, Kural believes that, when a
country loses out on environment, that it would also lose its tourist
potential.
Travel according to him helps people to get to know each other and
remove prejudices.
A mining engineer by profession and an environmentalist by passion,
Kural believes that Sri Lanka is yet to identify its full potential
which lies according to him in the countries unique culture, traditions,
nature etc.
“I would not like to come here to eat Pizzas and drink Coca-Cola” he
says with a twinkle in his eye. He is of the belief that Sri Lanka
should base its tourist appeal in the rural areas using its natural
habitats to the maximum effect.
Prof. Kural who is currently visiting the country with 36 other
members from a travellers club in Turkey hopes to promote Sri Lanka’s
cause in Turkey which has a 70 million population, as a tourism friendly
destination. Also according to him, he is to use his considerable
influence with Turkish authorities to open up an embassy to propagate
the cause.
The Professor who has already written 12 travel books also hopes to
write one on Sri Lanka shortly. Also according to Dr. Geethanjana Mendis,
Sri Lanka hopes to propose Prof. Kural to the Guinness book of records
as the Worlds most travelled person.
The book COAL is considered as the most important written work by
Prof. Kural on his primary profession. It has been prepared over a
period of six years with the contributions of 52 authors and 157
scientists from 61 countries.
The leaders of 22 countries has expressed their views in the preface
of the book. The book is currently being studied at mining faculties in
the universities of 20 different countries.
He established Gezginler Kulübü (Travelers Club) in Istanbul, which
is the first ever, travellers club in Turkey. It now has about 270
members with famous authors, photographers, scientists among them.
According to him he plans to organise more tourist groups to Sri
Lanka from Turkey, with another batch of 45 due in a couple of weeks.
His latest visit to Sri Lanka was organised by the Lions Paradise
Travels (Pvt) ltd. |