Sri Lanka seeks international media support to promote tourism

Sri Lanka is looking to expand its international tourism promotion efforts through leading global broadcasting networks following a series of meetings with international media representatives attending the 63rd General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath held discussions with senior officials of several international broadcasting organisations, focusing on strengthening media cooperation to showcase Sri Lanka’s tourism attractions to a wider global audience.

The meetings were held with Claire Gorman, General Manager of International at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC); Nesryn Bouzaine, Head of International Services at ABC; Gregoire Ndjaka, Chief Executive Officer of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB); and Zhou Jihong, Director General of RTPRC, China, and Vice President of ABU.

The Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and other officials also participated in the discussions.

The international media representatives expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s hospitality and the arrangements made for the ABU General Assembly. They also praised the country’s safety, the warmth of its people, natural beauty and the charm of Colombo.

They noted that their experiences in Sri Lanka had exceeded their expectations, highlighting the country’s positive appeal as a tourism destination.

The representatives also expressed their willingness to support Sri Lanka’s tourism promotion through their respective regional broadcasting networks, creating opportunities to showcase the country’s attractions to international audiences.

The discussions are expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s international media partnerships and help the country reach new tourism markets.

The benefits of hosting the ABU General Assembly are expected to extend beyond the event itself, with the international connections established during the gathering providing new opportunities to enhance Sri Lanka’s global visibility and promote its tourism industry.