Sri Lankan Tourism Minister calls on Ambika Soni

Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda called on Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni here today and discussed ways to promote and strengthen bilateral relations in the tourism sector.

New Delhi, Dec 17 : Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda called on Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni here today and discussed ways to promote and strengthen bilateral relations in the tourism sector.

Moragoda said that India is their largest market and his country is focusing on meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE tourism), and having success in it with the co-operation of Indian companies.

He said his country wants promotion of some Buddhist centres in South India for Sri Lankan tourists.

He said he is also looking for investment from Indian Hotel chains in Sri Lanka for the construction and promotion of budget hotels.

While stressing the importance of historical and cultural ties between the two countries Soni said, "the Joint Working Group (JWG) constituted in 2004 for the purpose can discuss and workout the modalities of the promotion of tourism related projects between the two countries".

Soni suggested the meeting of the JWG should be convened soon as a follow up of today's meeting.

She said India is promoting Buddhist Circuit Tourism in a big way and spots related to Buddhism are being developed not only in UP and Bihar but also in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and North East.

Both the leaders agreed to convene the meeting of the JWG between the two countries at a convenient date to accelerate the pace of cooperation in tourism sector.

In 2006 according to provisional estimates, 1,54,813 tourists arrived from Sri Lanka to India and the outbound tourist from India to Sri Lanka in 2005 was 1,13323.

ANI