A high profile Thai tourism delegation is currently in Sri Lanka to lay the groundwork for tourism collaboration between the two countries. This is a sequel to a recent meeting between Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga and Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn. The duo met on the sidelines of THAIFEX 2019 held in Bangkok earlier this month, where Supasorn assured that Thailand will collaborate with Sri Lanka Tourism to expedite the tourism recovery programme following the Easter Sunday incidents.

As part of the collaborative effort, an MOU is to be signed between Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to promote bilateral tourism between the two countries.

In addition, the delegation will have a B2B session with the local travel trade where representatives of the two countries will network with each other and also participate in a joint press conference. The Thai Tourism officials will share knowledge on best practice in destination marketing, assist in joint promotion of Buddhist trail in Sri Lanka, provide technical assistance in developing cultural experiences for tourists, and promote celebrity /influencer visits to Sri Lanka.

Thailand Tourism which has faced similar experiences and recovered quickly to attract even greater numbers has agreed to share expertise with regard to crisis management and recovery strategies. The Thai delegation is led by the Deputy Governor of the Tourism Association of Thailand (TAT) Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya and consists of tourism officials, 20 Thai media personnel including the country’s best travel bloggers and 40 Thai based tour operators. The delegation which arrived today (27) will be in the country till the 1^st of July.

“I’m pleased that the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand has accepted my invitation to visit Sri Lanka and offer assistance. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Thai Tourism delegation led by the Deputy Governor which also comprises top journalists and bloggers from Thailand. Our two countries share many similarities but the most common link is Buddhism. This is why we believe that the Buddhist trail in Sri Lanka will be a popular attraction for Thai tourists. I’m indebted to Thai Tourism for collaborating with us at this particular time as it sends a clear message to the world that Sri Lanka is now back to normal and ready to welcome visitors,” said Minister Amaratunga.

During their stay, the delegation is scheduled to visit several attractions in the country. The tour is organized and sponsored by SLTPB and coordinated by Sri Lanka’s mission in Thailand.