Tourism Promotion Road Show in Kuwait

The outbound tourism from the Middle Eastern region has been increasing tremendously since the last few years which was reflected by the tourist statistics to Sri Lanka from the said market. Consequently, the State of Kuwait has been identified as a promising region which has had a high growth rate throughout the past years.

The eight themes outlined in the tourism strategy from 2011-2016 will be the promotions in the Middle East, while keeping the consistent theme of 'Wonder of Asia'. Sri Lanka will focus more on fine-tuning the facilities to cater to the Middle Eastern traveller, such as villa type accommodation, Halal food, training and developing Arabic speaking guides and hotel staff to be familiarised with Middle Eastern customs.

Under the guidance of Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, SLTPB has identified the Middle East as a market with high potential, and therefore, a series of promotional activities have already been planned to be executed in this lucrative market.

This year, SLTPB expects to attract 90,000 visitors from the Middle Eastern nations. In 2016, however, with the target of the Sri Lankan Government to achieve 2.5 million arrivals, the total expectation from the Middle Eastern nations will rise up to 200,000 arrivals.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Road Show 2013 in Kuwait was organised and presented by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kuwait recently.

- Asian Tribune