Sri Lankan Ministers Promoting Tourism In Japan

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa have expressed their desire to invite a team of Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) officials to Sri Lanka and experience first-hand the present situation.

The ministers have made this comment during a meeting with JATA Chairman Akira Kanai.

The Sri Lankan embassy in Japan said the Ministers had emphasized that since the UK and US travel advisories on Sri Lanka have now been relaxed, they wish to invite a team of JATA officials to visit Sri Lanka and experience first-hand the present situation.

They had informed that the Sri Lanka Tourism Authority is now concentrating on new areas of interest for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, which are mainly, eco tourism, religious tourism and certain specialized areas such as ayurveda.

However, Kanai had in response said that the Japanese public needs more awareness on Sri Lanka as a travel destination, and that Japanese visitors are very concerned about Japanese food and Japanese language when visiting a destination and these are the areas that need attention when attracting Japanese tourists to Sri Lanka.

Peiris and Rajapaksa are currently on an official tour to Japan till July 30th.