Emirates joins Sri Lanka Tourism to promote the country

Emirates, one of the world’s largest carriers, is helping Sri Lanka promote the country as a destination and recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state-run Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) for this purpose.

The agreement was signed at the Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai. The agreement reaffirms the airline’s commitment to Sri Lanka and outlines mutually beneficial initiatives that will help revive the country’s trade and tourism industry, a statement issued by Emirates said. 

The MoU was signed by Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Kimarli Fernando, SLTPB Chairperson.

Ahmed Khoory, SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean at Emirates, said: “Sri Lanka remains a very key market in Emirates’ global network and the agreement signed underscores our unwavering commitment to the country.  We launched operations to Colombo more than 35 years ago, and our partnership continues to grow from strength to strength.”

Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson SLTPB, said: “Sri Lanka is a beautiful island destination with esteemed strategic partners such as Emirates, this is a vital aspect to steer Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism industry. Therefore, this partnership is crucial for us to explore and capitalize opportunities that emerge and to open up many beautiful avenues to establish brand awareness and perceived quality in the global tourism market.”

Under the agreement, Emirates and Sri Lanka Tourism will benefit from joint activities that will help enhance trade and tourism, including trade shows, trade familiarisation trips, exhibitions, and workshops.

The Dubai-based airline currently operates 28 weekly flights to Colombo and is the only international carrier to serve the country with First Class services – offering passengers world-class products and superior comfort in air and on-ground.