Direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu expected to “re-energize” tourism industries of two countries

The direct flights have removed “a long felt impediment to promote tourism between the two countries”, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Nepal has said.

An aircraft of Sri Lankan Airlines at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Photo: Sri Lankan Airlines)

NL Today

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Kathmandu: On the heels of the start of direct flights between Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, and Kathmandu, the Nepal Tourism Board, in coordination with Sri Lanka Embassy in Nepal and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, hosted a webinar recently to promote tourism between the two countries and “to explore opportunities for collaborative activities”. 

The webinar saw the attendance of tourism promotion institutions and tourism industry stakeholders from the two countries.

The direct flights have removed “a long felt impediment to promote tourism between the two countries”, reads a statement issued by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Nepal on Tuesday, October 5.

The webinar, presided by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Nepal Himalee Arunatilaka and Chargė d’Affaires of Nepal in Colombo, Bishwash Bhatta, saw discussions on opportunities for collaboration to promote tourism, as well as the measures that need to be in place to instill confidence in tourists traveling during the pandemic, the release further notes.

At the discussion, Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, presented the post-Covid strategy for Nepali tourism and year-round attractions in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Dushan Wickramasuriya, director of marketing at the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, gave a presentation on the diversity of Sri Lanka’s tourist attractions and also outlined the post-Covid safety protocols that have been put in place for safe and secure tourism during the pandemic.

“The similarity of cultures also makes the two countries appealing holiday destinations for each others’ citizens,” the embassy said in its statement.