Asia Pacific On-board Travel (APOT.Asia), an organization that brings together tourism and hospitality leaders in the Asia Pacific region, is looking to expand its tourism promotional strategies with the appointment of its new chairman, Nishantha Wickremesinghe, the incumbent Chairman of Sri Lanka’s national carrier, SriLankan Airlines.

Wickremesinghe took over duties from the outgoing chairperson, Heather Cho, Senior Vice President of Korean Air, in August this year.

Aimed at collectively inventing and improving new strategies to attract more tourists to the region, APOT. Asia is a global body with a member-base ranging from airline in-flight products and service suppliers, airline caterers, catering product suppliers, airline managements, hospitality partners and media organizations.

“I am honoured to be appointed the Chairman of APOT Asia, which is an organization that works extensively towards promoting tourism in the region.

This is not a personal achievement or that of the Airline alone.

This is a collective effort of the entire country that has been, once again, recognized at a global forum. As the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines has been working tirelessly towards making Sri Lanka an aviation hub in Asia as set down in the development goals of the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma programme, introduced by the visionary leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Chairman-elect Wickremasinghe.

APOT. Asia has been raising awareness on the regions tourism potential through educating stakeholders on tourist attractions, business and investment opportunities.

It shares, educates and discusses ground-breaking ideas and new tourism trends that can be utilized to increase the number of tourist arrivals.

At the 2014 June Forum in Danang, Vietnam, Wickremasinghe was among the invited speakers.

This year, with SriLankan Airlines Chairman at the helm, APOT- Asia is planning to hold its next annual forum in Sri Lanka in 2015 with over 250 delegates in attendance.

Commenting on the event, Wickremasinghe added, I am confident that the mileage gained out of this could be diverted to further promote the country as an ideal tourist destination that has something in store for any type of traveller and SriLankan Airlines, as the perfect way to get there.