The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) with Sri Lanka Tourism will launch promotions in Tokyo next year to tap the vast Japanese tourist market, Sri Lanka-Japan Business Council (SLJBC) President and (SLAITO) Past President Mahen Kariyawasam told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
“We are grateful to Japan for not issuing a travel advisory on Sri Lanka which sent positive vibes to the region, a significant segment of our travel market,” Kariyawasam said.
The number of tourist arrivals from Japan dropped in recent months due to the Covid-19 pandemic that put the brakes on travel by the Japanese.
The number of visitors from Japan had been around 1,500 up to August this year compared to around 400 last year.
Upbeat about a quick revival in the tourism sector the SLJBC President said that the tourist arrival figures from all key markets will pick up soon.
Japan’s Grandbell Hotel in Colombo is a positive signal of Japanese interest in Sri Lanka as both countries have maintained cordial ties.
Diplomatic ties between Japan and Sri Lanka commenced in 1952, four years after Sri Lanka gained Independence. According to 2020 statistics, around 27, 735 Sri Lankans reside in Japan and 791 Japanese live in Sri Lanka.
The SLJBC will promote indigenous medicine in Japan and the Japanese have shown an immense interest in it for decades, Kariyawasam said, adding that we should step up efforts to promote Japanese investments in the country.
“We must not only look at reviving tourism but also achieving growth,” Kariyawasam said, adding that what is important is to pay special emphasis on retaining Japanese investments.
The SLJBC discussions with the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry are a step in this regard, Kariyawasam told the SLJBC Annual General Meeting in Colombo last week.
Source: https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2022/09/11/news/promotions-tap-vast-japanese-market
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