The second meeting of the BIMSTEC tour operators meeting was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 8th -9th December 2020. The meeting was successfully hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka on a virtual platform.
The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has arranged this event with the support of Sri Lankan tour operators. Delegates from BIMSTEC countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka have participated at this meeting. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Waruna Samaradiwakara, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Tourism. After welcoming all the delegates, he emphasized the importance of agreed action plan which discussed at the 1st BIMSTEC Tour Operators Network Meeting on tourism for the BIMSTEC region.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. S. Hettiarrachchi, Secretary Ministry of Tourism where he emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between government agencies, private sector tour operators and hospitality industry entrepreneurs to promote tourism in BIMSTEC region. Further, he recommended the concrete course of action for the sustainable tourism promotion focusing on regional cooperation and socioeconomic development.
At this important event all the distinguish delegates have shared the recommendations in the areas of
- Regional policies for BIMSTEC brand of Tourism
- BIMSTEC Buddhist and temple tourism circuits
- BIMSTEC eco- tourism and cruise tourism circuits
- BIMSTEC common safety protocols for adventure tourism
- BIMSTEC annual convention/travel mart/conclave on tourism
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The outcomes of this fruitful meeting are;
- to establish a virtual tourism information center in India and member states to nominate nodal officers.
- to form a committee for the preparation of action plan on BIMSTEC brand of tourism and the modalities of utilization of BIMSTEC tourism fund before 31st December 2020 and prepare a draft action plan within six months after first meeting.
- Delegates of Nepal have agreed to host the first BIMSTEC Annual Convention/travel mart/conclave in tourism in 2021 and to host third meeting of the BIMSTEC Tour operators’ network.
