UN resident coordinator for Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer says that Sri Lanka’s tourism industry should market the country as a sustainable destination.

Speaking at the annual International Tourism Leaders’ Summit (ITLS) and Tourism Research Conference on Saturday (28) she highlighted the need for strong partnership with relevant stakeholders to create policies and measures that will push for sustainability in the sector.

“We can no longer consider sustainable tourism offerings as earth choice. The tourism sector as a whole needs to focus marketing Sri Lanka as not only a desirable destination but also differentiating it as a sustainable destination in one of the most competitive global sectors. Harnessing of tourism- positive contribution to sustainable development and the mitigating sector adverse effect call for a strong partnership and the decisive action by all the tourism stakeholders.”

Young People also have a stake in the Future of the Economy, Singer added.

“Young people are the present but they are also the future. Developing plans and policies without them is futile exercise. Here in Sri Lanka you have access to 4.4 million young people. These young people need to be provided with gainful employment and their contribution to the sector will be immense,”

The International Tourism Leaders’ Summit (ITLS) and International Tourism Research Conference (ITRC) is mainly focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) in the global Arena.

It tries to emphasize the Journey to 2030 in alignment of United Nations’ Global Agenda.

The Conference will serve as a Tourism Knowledge, Innovation, Policy and Synergy platform bringing together diplomats, international organisations, policy makers, relevant ministries, cooperate sector, investors and the tourism and hospitality business sectors from the local, regional and global tourism stakeholders to determine the way forward for sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka.