Netherlands envoy introduces ‘Sri Lanka: Small Miracle

Tourism re-branding strategy:

“Having successfully defeated terrorism, the Government of Sri Lanka is in the process of devising dedicated plans to address the post conflict issues to create a peaceful and prosperous nation for all Sri Lankan citizens to live in harmony” said Ambassador to the Netherlands Mrs. Grace Asirwatham. She was addressing a function organized to brief travel operators and travel writers on the current situation in Sri Lanka to introduce the proposed re-branding strategy of tourism on June 5 in The Hague.

Ambassador Asirwatham said that although Sri Lanka was affected by terrorism for nearly 30 years, the country was resilient enough to maintain the economic development through pragmatic policies. President of the Netherlands-Sri Lanka Business Council Bernard Menken shared his views on the positive developments in Sri Lanka and encouraged the tour operators and travel writers in the Netherlands to take advantage of the conducive situation and facilities in Sri Lanka to provide a ‘unique tourism destination’ to Dutch travellers.

Director Passenger Sales of Kales Airline Services Dannie van der Harst who also represented the GSA for SriLankan Airlines in Amsterdam said that his office and the tourism authorities in Sri Lanka are working in close cooperation to promote Sri Lanka tourism in the Netherlands and outlined details of a proposal to offer air tickets on concessionary terms. He said that of all countries that he had visited, Sri Lanka was the most beautiful destination and highlighted the diverse features it has to cater to the needs of all types of tourists.

Head of the South Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands Harry Van Dijk and Secretary-General of the Iran-US Claims Tribunal M.C.W. Pinto were the Guests of Honour.

Ambassador Asirwatham explained that as a beginning of a new chapter in the history of Sri Lanka, all economic activities have been accelerated to use the resources and potential to its fullest capacity to re-build the nation.

She said that Sri Lanka is preparing to present the entire country for international tourism and outlined the on-going activities in the areas of economic infrastructure development in the Eastern province, reconstruction and resettlement in the North and Northeast of Sri Lanka.

As the main facet of the event, the new tourism brand and the tagline “Sri Lanka: Small Miracle” was introduced by the Ambassador with an explanation on the brand strategy details. The Ambassador said that the re-branding is the core feature of the new strategy towards reviving the tourism industry for vigorous promotion. A documentary film on the tourism potential in Sri Lanka was shown at the end of the program.