Sri Lanka Tourism to celebrate World Tourism Day 2020

• Event themed ‘Tourism and Rural Development’ to be held beginning Sept. 25 in Kandy

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and the Department of Trade Commerce and Tourism of Central Provincial Council have organized a three-day special programme and several other events to celebrate the World Tourism Day 2020 in Kandy. 

World Tourism Day was declared by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to promote sustainable, responsible and universally accessible tourism. It is commemorated worldwide on September 27th every year. 

This year’s World Tourism Day will be celebrated under the theme ‘Tourism and Rural Development’, focusing on fostering a people-centric, technology-driven and sustainable tourism sector from the grassroot level, to achieve overall economic development in the long run.

Tourism is an important driving force for pro-poor economic growth and poverty alleviation. 

It serves as a catalyst for job creation for youth, women, minorities, indigenous people and other marginalized groups, and as a stimulant of infrastructure and public service development in rural areas.

Therefore, this year’s World Tourism Day aims to incorporate key provisions of the Tourism Strategic Action Plan 2020-2022, by taking measures to upgrade community-based tourism products, improve strategic marketing of tourism products and enhance the capacities of tourism-based SMEs. Such initiatives are expected to encourage rural industries and communities to exploit opportunities available in tourism-based niche markets. 

The official ceremony will commence at 9.00 a.m. on September 27th of at the Kandy City Centre, under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha and Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranathunga with the presence of other officials from Sri Lanka Tourism.