The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has inked an MoU with Dubai-based Emirates to help revive the Southeast Asian country’s trade and tourism industry, Gulf Business reports.
Both parties per the agreement will benefit from joint activities to enhance trade and tourism, including trade shows, trade familiarization trips, exhibitions, and workshops.
“Sri Lanka remains a very key market in Emirates’ global network and the agreement signed today underscores our unwavering commitment to the country. We launched operations to Colombo more than 35 years ago, and our partnership continues to grow from strength to strength,” said Ahmed Khoory, SVP Commercial West Asia and Indian Ocean at Emirates.
“This partnership is crucial for us to explore and capitalize opportunities that emerge and to open up many beautiful avenues to establish brand awareness and perceived quality in the global tourism market,” said Kimarli Fernando, chairperson Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
The carrier currently operates 28 weekly flights to Colombo and is the only international carrier to serve the country with First Class services.
The Asian country reopened for international arrivals in February 2021. Emirates has carried more than 80,000 passengers to Colombo and most travelers stem from UAE, Italy, UK and Germany.
Sri Lanka hires Emirates to promote tourism industry
