Intellectual property and tourism

Sri Lanka has been selected as one of the four pilot countries to participate in a World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Project titled 'Intellectual Property, Tourism and Culture'. This project will contribute to promoting awareness of the role of IP in Sri Lanka and supporting tourism-related economic activities of the country. It will also enhance the scope for utilising IP for development in a new area, under the on-going cooperation between WIPO and the government through a 10 Point Action Plan.

Dr. Francis Gurry, Director General World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) communicating this decision to Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, said this selection was made following Sri Lanka's expression of interest and formal proposal submitted to the WIPO to participate in this project in August 2015.

This is the first time Sri Lanka has been selected to participate as a pilot country for a Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) project. WIPO officials will liaise with the relevant authorities of the government to begin project implementation in early 2016.

This project will aim at building capacities of key stakeholders and raising awareness of the intersection between IP and tourism, in the framework of growth and development policies.

The experiences and best practices documented and the strategies, tools and practical guide developed in the course of the project will also contribute to guide policy decisions and raise public awareness on the use of IP in promoting tourism, national and or local knowledge, traditions and culture, while increasing national economic, social and cultural benefits. The project aims to address Recommendations included in the WIPO Development agenda.