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From C.L. Ihalagamage in Poland

Warsaw - Sri Lanka's Embassy in Poland has launched a program to educate tour operators, hoteliers, travel and tour organisers, journalists including TV/Radio personnel on the current situation in Sri Lanka and encourage them to continue tour operations without any reservations.

"We conveyed a good message to the relevant groups by way of meetings and distributing documents. We have received a good response," Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Poland, Tudor Gunasekara said.

"We were informed by the foreign tour department of the Gromada Hotel that a tour group consisting of 25 members is scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka in October," he said. Gromada is one of the leading hotel companies and tour operators in Poland. It has been providing comprehensive services for tourists as well as business travellers in Poland and abroad since 1937.

Director of Foreign Travel Department of the Hotel said "We haven't forgotten that Sri Lanka is a beautiful island and is one of the best tour destinations in the world, according to our experience.

We have produced a film on Sri Lanka to be telecast over four Polish TV channels. We plan to do similar programs, most probably next year," he said.

Dr. Marek Zgorzelski of Poznaj Swiat Magazine has visited Sri Lanka several times.

He has a very rare collection of beautiful colour slides and explained that he has planned to visit Sri Lanka during the Winter Season. He also suggested to hold photographic exhibitions in Warsaw, Poznan and Cracow, which he believes he could contribute. One of the tour operators said:

"We do not see any hindrances or barriers to stop our regular activities to any country, due to any sad incident. In viewing the incident at BIA, our clients have not shown any comments or any disappointment so far."

Another experienced tourist Andrzej Stepinski, a retired Director Marketing, said: "I enjoyed my experiences being in Sri Lanka with my family six months ago and have cherished memories on visiting the historical places in the hill country, beautiful scenery, ancient temples, churches and especially the hospitality of your people, their lifestyle, customs and culture - I really admire.

I have visited nearly 52 countries, but had never visited such a beautiful country before. However, I have planned my next visit to Sri Lanka with my grandsons in April next year, Mr. Andrzej said.

Ambassador Gunasekara said that the information that is being received through newspapers, internet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sri Lanka Tourist Board, is translated into the Polish language and distributed among the relevant groups.

Polish tour operators said that they will continue to promote Sri Lanka's tourism despite problems in the island. "Such problems are not confined only to Sri Lanka," he said.

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