The ceremonial event of the World Tourism Day Celebrations 2024 organized by the Final year undergraduates of the Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management degree programme of the Department of Tourism Studies, Faculty of Management of Uva Wellassa University in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism – Uva Province. The world tourism day is annually celebrated on 27^th September under different themes and this year, it was “Tourism & Peace”. A series of community-driven programmes including a Home Science Workshop for A/L Home Economics students of Uva Province, Quizzy Buzzer 2024 quiz competition for A/L Commerce stream students of Uva Province, all island “Expressive Ink” essay competition, “Naviagtio” photography competition, Tourism Walk at Haputale were held beforehand to celebrate this year World Tourism Day.

Marking the end of World Tourism Day Celebrations 2024, the ceremonial event was held on 28^th October 2024 at the university premises. Senior Professor. Kolitha Wijesekara, Vice Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and Mr. Dmitri Cooray, Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels delivered the Keynote address at the ceremonial event. During the ceremony, 4^th volume of the WOW Magazine, which is an annual publication by the Department of Tourism Studies and a destination promotion video on Bogoda Wooden bridge, which is the oldest surviving wooden bridge in Sri Lanka were launched.

Further, two panel discussions on “Building Bridges in a Divided World” and “Tourism as a Pathway to Understanding” were conducted in parallel to the tourism day ceremonial event with the participation of Mr. Dmitri Cooray (Managing Director – Jetwing Hotels), Mr. Refhan Razeen (General Manager – Shangri-La Hambanthota), Mr. Ishara Gunawardana (Manager -Air Services & Traffic Rights, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka), Mr. Pramudith Thenabadu (Senior Consultant – Pekoe Trail), Prof. Rangana Shalika (Professor in Tourism Management at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka), Mr. Sampath Nissanka (Chief Executive Officer – Uva

Tourism Promotion Bureau), Mr. Hashan Perera (National Tourist Guide Lecturer) and Mr. Suraj Wijewickarama (Senior Executive at Tangerine Tours Pvt Ltd). The sessions were moderated by Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe Dean/Faculty of Management and Mr. Dhananjaya Nawarathna, Head/Department of Tourism Studies of Uva Wellassa University. Distinguished invitees from various academic and government institutes, industry professionals, schools and undergraduates participated in this event.