The International Tourism Leaders’ Summit (ITLS) was held in Colombo yesterday under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, marking the conclusion of a month-long series of activities held throughout September in line with World Tourism Day.
The summit brought together Ambassadors, High Commissioners, tourism industry stakeholders, and both local and international scholars. It included school competitions from provincial to national levels, research forums, and industry expos.
Guided by the Ministry of Tourism, the event was jointly organized by the Alumni Association of Tourism Economics and Hospitality Management (AATEHM) of the University of Colombo, its Sustainable Tourism Unit (STU), the Department of Economics, and in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), and the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM).
The summit aimed to enhance the contribution of the younger generation, particularly in small and medium enterprises, towards the future of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
A key feature of the summit was a scholarly discussion on “Tourism Innovation and Connections for the Future of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry,” attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and distinguished international experts.
President Dissanayake presented awards and certificates to students who won in provincial competitions of the All-Island School Tourism Clubs. The launch of the “Ruhunu Ring” website was also held, connecting the Southern, Uva, and Eastern provinces along with their tourism service providers. The first copy of the “Vision2Voice” magazine was presented to the President.
Professor Suranga de Silva, Coordinator of the Tourism Studies Programmes and Sustainable Tourism Unit of the University of Colombo, presented a volume containing the ten best tourism research papers from the University of Colombo. Awards were also given to tourism industry veterans, and a special memento was presented to the President.
Speaking at the summit, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, emphasized the government’s focus on developing a quality-driven tourism industry through research and innovation, and highlighted efforts to attract younger generations to the sector. He also noted that Sri Lanka’s unique hospitality, deeply rooted in its culture and civilization, has the potential to offer unparalleled experiences while contributing to national economic growth.
Other dignitaries present included Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe, SLTDA and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo Professor Indika Karunathilaka, and AATEHM President Nihal Muhandiram.
