The Korea-Sri Lanka Travel & Tourism Club was launched at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in Seoul on 14th February 2014. The club was created to enhance the cultural and economic relationship between Sri Lanka and South Korea. One of its main goals is to promote tourism, a core area of growth for Sri Lanka-Korea relations.

The chief guest of the event, Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development met with more than 100 Korean and Sri Lankan members of the club who were present at the launch ceremony. Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy Hon. Susil Premajayatha also attended the event.

During the event, Minister Rajapaksa further expressed his sincere appreciation to the organizers and members of the tourism club for leading the launch, promoting tourism and cultural relations between Sri Lanka and South Korea and initiating the campaign to increase awareness of Sri Lanka as a popular destination for Korean tourists. Sri Lanka is already being vigorously promoted in Korea’s main markets, particularly through a series of promotional campaigns that will be presented throughout the year. This club will provide the additional boost for the tourism campaigns.

During his welcome speech, Ambassador Tissa Wijeratne stated the need to maintain steady channels of communication between Korean agencies and tourism organizations and Sri Lanka; this would aim to promote the travel and trade industry and heighten the relations between the two countries.

Mr. Bhashwara Gunarathna, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism, gave a comprehensive presentation with a guiding theme of “Sri Lanka Tourism, an unmatched product” as a way to increase awareness about Sri Lanka’s diversity and scenic beauty alongside other attractions that would be of interest for Korean travelers about Sri Lanka.

Mr. Un –Shik Chung, President of the Korea–Sri Lanka Travel & Tourism Club and Mr. Lee Hoon, Vice President of the Korea World Travel Fair also addressed he gathering highlighting the future plans of enhancing Korea -Sri Lanka relations through the newly establish Travel & Tourism Club.

The members who participated in the event were very enthusiastic about the launch of club and wished the club success and that it brings about longstanding results in the way of bilateral co-operation, booming tourism, and a better understanding of the socio-economic identities and cultures of the two countries.