Prema Cooray honoured with PATWA Award

Sri Lanka’s Tourism veteran hospitality industry developer and former Chairman of Blue Chip Tourism Company Aitken Spence, Prema Cooray was honored by Pacific Asia Travel Writers Association (PATWA) with their ‘Hall of Fame’ award for his life time contribution to the promotion of Sri Lanka Tourism world wide.

“This is an honour not only for Mr. Cooray but also for the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and Sri Lanka Tourism industry where he plays a key role as an advisor to many boards and committees’ General Manager of the Convention Bureau Vipula Wanigasekera said. Such a recognition will also draw the attention of the international elite community in the travel business giving a boost to the current efforts of tourism authorities to reposition the brand when the country is about to see total peace.

Cooray received this award on March 13 at SAAL, Berlin during the largest Travel Fair in the world, ITB. Mr. Cooray is represented the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau as its Chairman where Sri Lanka was projected to the buyers attending from all over the world, as a unique destination.

The PATWA is the biggest travel writers organization representing members from 70 countries from all over the world. Incidentally, PATWA was established during a PATA Conference in Colombo.

It strives to promote professional development of travel writing and travel communication. PATWA’s objectives are in line with that of PATA efforts for tourism and at the same time it will maintain adherence to the fundamental principles of the UNESCO, United Nations and of the World Tourism Organisation.

One of their activities is to recognize and honour the personalities who make a valuable contribution to the industry.