SLTPB joins Shanghai Tourism Institute to promote tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Shanghai Institute of Tourism signed an MoU to promote tourism and improve human resources in the tourism sector.

The MoU would entail promoting common prosperity and development of tourism related facilities. As a result culmination of the said MoU, Shanghai Institute of Tourism would assist the SLTBP to develop and conduct a guide training program in Shanghai in April. This would assist Sri Lankan travel agencies to provide a better service to Chinese tourists visiting Sri Lanka.

During the discussion, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau recalled the close bilateral ties between the two countries and also Sri Lanka obtained Accredited Destination Status (ADS) in 2002. He went on to explore the possibility of further cooperation in the tourism sector since there is a steady increase in the number of Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka, Chairman Goonetilleka thanked the Institute for their support to send a Chinese chef to Sri Lanka in September in order to teach Sri Lankan chefs to prepare authentic Chinese cuisines. He also thanked the Institute for assisting Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to train guides which is scheduled to commence in April 2009.

The President of Shanghai Institute of Tourism while thanking Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau for visiting and signing the MoU to promote cooperation between the two institutions stated that he was happy to assist in training of guides at the institute.

He went on to state that they would visit Sri Lanka in the near future and dates would be worked out in consultation with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Consulate.

The Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau was given a guided tour of the Institute where he was able to see at first hand the facilities available and also which would be afforded to the Sri Lankan guides attending the training course.

The Sri Lankan delegation was also shown the state-of-the-art 3D cinema which is used by the students.

On a request of the Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau the President of the Shanghai Institute of Tourism agreed to produce a documentary on Sri Lanka and give wide coverage within the Institute.

Signing of the MoU between Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Shanghai Institute of Tourism was organized by the Consulate of Sri Lanka in Shanghai.