“Sustainable Tourism For Development - Way Forward For Sri Lanka” This Year’s Theme Of the Summit

12th June : Colombo : oThe organizers of Tourism Leader’s summit recently met the Minister of Tourism Development Hon Johan Amaratunga, officials of the ministry and Sri Lank tourism to brief on the forthcoming United nation’s World Tourism Day celebrations . Tourism Leader’s summit is an annual event organized by the Alumini Association of Tourism Economics and Hospitality Management (ATEHM) of University Of Colombo to coincide with the UNWTO celebrations .Started in 2014 , the summit has turned out to be a well accepted event by the industry having being recognized as the main event that coincides with the UN world tourism Day . “Sustainable Tourism for development -way forward for Sri Lanka “is the theme this year which is a combination of the global theme and an addition of relevant Sri Lankan context .

The organizing committee led by Dr Suranga Silva briefed the minister of tourism on the theme, objectives and the current status of the summit . Minister Amratunga has reportedly confirmed the support of his ministry and Sri Lanka tourism while proposing improvements . Dr Silva is the founder and coordinator of Master in Tourism Economics and Hotel Management, University of Colombo and Secretary General - Tourism and Hospitality Educators and Researchers Association of Asia (THERAA) .Minister has recommended collaboration with all stake holders in the Industry and proposed to consider carrying out an awareness program in the provinces targeting the school children in a bid to attract them to the industry . He has pointed out that it is of significant importance to attract the youth into the hospitality industry with the current government policy of promoting tourism as a major economic drive .

This years summit will be held on 04th Oct at the BMICH and it will feature eminent guest speakers Prof. Sanjay Nadkarni -Dubai, UAE ,Prof. François Vellas -France , Prof. Heidi Dahles, - Australia , Dr. Joseph M. Cheer - Australia , Prof. Keir Reeves - Australia ,Prof. S RashidulHasan - Bangladesh ,Prof. Bansal - Delhi ,Prof. Sandeep Kulshestra - Lucknow/ Delhi ,Prof. Venkat Rao - Chennai ,Prof. Dr. Dimitri Ioannides - Sweden, Dr. Stroma Cole - London ,Prof. Dr. Kumi Kato - Japan ,Prof. Claudio Milano – Spain ,prof. Ali Kathabi - Malaysia , Prof. Marina Ambrosecchio – Italy ,Prof. Dr. S Chemsripong,- Thailand , Prof. QiujuLuo - Guangzhou, P.R. China

The fringe events in the run up to the main event will include Women in Tourism and Community Based Tourism ,Pre-event press briefing , Tree-planting campaign and public awareness program on Sustainable Tourism ,Tourism Day Walk 2017 ,Industry interactive network building cricket carnival &Tourism Walk , Quiz competition , Tourism Leaders International Research Symposium and Conclave.