Oct 16, 2009
Sri Lanka's Tourism Promotions Minister Faiszer Musthapha, who was in Kuwait from 12th - 14th October on an official visit, appealed to Kuwaitis to visit Sri Lanka and enjoy its beauty and hospitality. This he said at a Sri Lanka promotional event held on 13th October 2009 organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy for the members of travel trade, media and well-wishers. The Sri Lankan Embassy as part of its promotional campaigns to attract tourists from the Middle East has launched several initiatives to promote Sri Lanka as a tourism destination. It is significant that with the dawn of peace in the country there is a surge of tourist arrivals from Middle East including Kuwait from where a 30% increased has been recorded.
Delivering a speech Minister Musthapha invited the guests in the audience to visit Sri Lanka and showcase Sri Lanka's rich diversity, culture & heritage, sun & beaches, flora & fauna, wild life, Ayurvedic treatments and other attractions to the Kuwaiti tourists. Elaborating further, Minister remarked that the peoples of Sri Lanka and Kuwait share deep routed relationships for generations and expressed the confidence that the friendly people of Kuwait will take advantage of the peaceful atmosphere now prevails in the country to explore his country's places of attractions and scenic beauty which are unique for the Arab travelers. He also noted with gratitude that the tour operators in the Middle East have played a crucial role in helping Sri Lanka gain a strong footing in the market. Therefore, it is our responsibility to work with them and to build close relationship with them as we have started new era after the victory against the 30-year old conflict.
Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Kuwait, Sarath Dissanayake speaking on this occasion, appreciated the Government and people of Kuwait for patronizing Sri Lanka as a favorite travel destination. He was also thankful to the Kuwaiti peoples for their goodwill and generosity for the Sri Lankan people and for the economic assistance and opportunities offered to Sri Lanka which are most beneficial. It was noted that the two countries have enjoyed the best of relations and will continue to promote this mutually beneficial partnership in all sectors including political, economic, investment, tourism and people to people exchanges. The Sri Lanka tourism industry is well geared to serve Arab travelers with their special needs such as the halal-food, places of Islamic religious worship, diversity in whether, Arabic-speaking people etc. that help travellors enjoy the destination to their satisfaction.
Mr. Fayaz Thaha, Country Manager of SriLankan Airlines in Kuwait made a presentation following which Ms. Muna Husein Abdul Reda Mohammad Sheshtar, Managing Editor, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) briefed the audience on the firsthand experience she gained during her visit to Sri Lanka as a member of the 13-member group of journalists on a FAM tour last week.
The representative from the travel trade and media also spoke, who appreciated the efforts made by the Sri Lankan Embassy and likeminded institutions to promote Sri Lanka's travel and touristic places. They expressed their continued support to position Sri Lanka in the Middle East as a much sought after destination for Arab travelers and the Kuwaitis in particular.
Minister Musthapha, during his short visit to Kuwait also had very productive discussions with Minister of Commerce & Industry, Ahmad Al-Haroun, Undersecretary/Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Rashed S.Y. Tabtabaei, Undersecretary/ Ministry of Information, Sheikh Faisal Khalifa Al-Malek Al-Sabah, Chairman/ Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ali Mohamed Thoniyan Alghanim, on Sri Lanka - Kuwait relations as well as prospects for further promotion of cooperation between the two countries in such sectors as trade, investment, tourism, culture, media, people to people relations. He also appeared on the Kuwaiti Television channel.
The Minister's visit and the interactions he had with Kuwaiti dignitaries, members of the media and travel trade have received wide coverage and a total of 10 articles appeared in the Kuwaiti newspapers.
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait
