World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day (WTD) is celebrated on the 27th September every year in worldwide. This year will mark the 30th Anniversary of the UNWTO World Tourism Day and UNWTO has declared this year’s theme as “Tourism Celebrating Diversity”.

In this context, Sri Lanka Tourism is planning to organize several programmes to celebrate this year’s World Tourism Day in Island wide with the cooperation of provincial tourism authorities. The main ceremony will be held in the Mount Lavinia Beach. In addition to that, 2009 WTD celebrations would include a cleaning and tree planting campaign in the Marine Drive.

WORLD TOURISM DAY MAIN EVENT

On 27th September 2008 at Yapawwa
Organized by Ministry of Tourism, SLTDA, SLTPB, Maho PS, RTP

A project will be launched focusing Yapawwa historical city, which augurs well with this year’s World Tourism Day theme. The plan is to position Yapawwa as an environment friendly Carbon off city which will have alternative energy practices, Carbon emission controlling projects such as the following will ensure a clean Carbon minimized city.

• A cleaning Campaign
• Tree planting Campaign
• Launching of a Visitor facility development project
• Distribution of bicycles among school children
• Appointment of a brand Ambassador for Yapawwa.
• Distribution of waste collecting bins among for the residents of Mahawa.

World Tourism Day Island wide Celebrations – 2008

“Tourism Opens doors for women” is the theme for the United Nations World Tourism Day 2007 and Sri Lanka has been selected as this year’s host country for this important event.

Activities

Main Activities which were conducted are summarized below;

• The Official World Tourism Day Celebration Ceremony was held on the 27th September at the Picnic Area, Bentota, which was attended by many international delegates, UN World Tourism Organization officials, foreign dignitaries and local & international media.
• One day Women Tourism Leaders Summit was held on 27th September at the Taj Exotica Hotel, Bentota and twenty international leaders (see annex 1) comprising of Tourism Ministers, UN organization heads, leading academia and professionals attended the summit as resource personnel. In addition , 87 local women leaders in achievement attended this summit. The summit was web cast by the UNWTO linking leading international resource personnel joining to contribute to the discussion. As agreed with UNWTO, SLTB hosted the air travel, accommodation, meals and ground transportation for the visiting 20 resource personnel from 26th to 28th (2 nights).
• UNWTO sponsored online Photographic Competition “Faces of the New Millennium” : Exhibition was held at the Taj Exotica Hotel, Bentota on 27th September 2007.
• The UNWTO WPP World kids Programme was launched on 27th September 2007.
• Sri Lanka as a “Earth Lung Destination” was launched.
• Cultural Show which was organized by the SLTB and Ruhunu Tourism Bureau was held at the Picnic Area following the Official Ceremony.
• A commemorative stamp was issued on the Official Tourism Day.
• An International Press Conference was held at the Taj Exotica Hotel at Bentota.
• The Sri Lanka Rupavahini telecasted live transmition from Bentota from 1730 hrs to 1900 hrs and also telecasted 25×30 sec publicity trailers prior to the event.
• The Welcome Reception was held on 26th September 2007 at the “Sulanka” SLTB Resort, Bentota and Chandana Wickramasinghe Dancing Guild showcased their dancing performances at the occasion.
• The farewell Reception was held at Taj Exotica Hotel, Bentota. Mr. Sarath De Alwis directed the musical presentation at the reception whilst vocals were by Visharada Deepika Priyadarshani Pieris.