COLOMBO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry on Monday celebrated the World Tourism Day 2021 by conducting special programs and events in the central hills of Haputale.
A statement by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said as Sri Lanka began to open its borders to the world, Sri Lanka Tourism continued its strategic efforts to promote the nation to capture the attention of a global audience seeking an outlet to experience travel once again.
This year's World Tourism Day has been celebrated under the theme "Tourism for Inclusive Growth," focusing on fostering a people-centric, technology-driven, and sustainable tourism sector from the grassroots level, to achieve overall sustainable economic development.
Apart from the official celebration, a series of other events have been planned, including seven webinars on diverse topics.
Generating further excitement to commemorate the World Tourism Day, seven competitions were organized under the categories, namely the Inter-University Category, including Best Travel YouTube Channel Competition, Best Travel Facebook Page Competition, and Best Travel E-Poster Competition; the Open Category including Best Travel Photography Competition, Best Travel Videography Competition, Best Innovative Tour Package Competition and Best Social Media Page/Blog Competition.
"Sri Lanka Tourism is taking strategic measures to improve the performance of the domestic tourism sector by upgrading community-based tourism products, increasing registration of SMEs, uplifting industry standards, enhancing strategic marketing and improving the efficiency of public services and infrastructure," the SLTDA said in a statement.
"Such initiatives are expected to create opportunities particularly to tourism and hospitality-based SMEs as well as the rural community. 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," the SLTDA added. Enditem