Sri Lanka wants 5m tourists a year, envoy tells Riyadh event

Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)
Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)
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Updated 22 March 2023
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Sri Lanka wants 5m tourists a year, envoy tells Riyadh event

Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism. (AN photo)
  • Sri Lankan embassy is hoping to encourage visitors from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, to visit
  • Tourism will contribute to the country’s economy, which has suffered because of the global pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Ambassador

RIYADH: Sri Lanka is planning to increase visitor numbers to 5 million a year in a bid to revive its tourism sector and struggling economy, according to the island’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Pakeer Mohideen Amza was speaking at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism to the South Asian country, which has faced an economic crisis and widespread social unrest since 2022.

The embassy is hoping to encourage visitors from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, to visit Sri Lanka.




Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks to Arab News at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)

In a presentation, the ambassador shared statistics on tourism, and highlighted the country’s heritage, architectural history and natural attractions.

Tourism will contribute to the country’s economy, which has suffered because of the global pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Amza said.

“This year has started very well. I can say we had some challenging times in 2019. 2020 was the pandemic year. Then, in 2021, the tourism sector started to crumble. I think, in 2022, we started getting back, but, still, we had a bad economic situation. So, that hampered our tourism development,” he said.




People attend an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)

However, the country had more than 100,000 visitors in January and February this year, signalling a stronger tourism market.

“We think tourism is a very important sector for our economy,” he said.

As for what visitors can expect in Sri Lanka, the ambassador said: “We are small, but we are rich in resources. And that’s what we say, come and explore.”

Asked about future projects or plans to attract tourists, he replied: “We have a plan to develop the tourism sector. It will attract 5 million tourists a year. I’m sure we need to do a lot about that. At the moment, we are bouncing back. So, come and hold our hands. Work together with us. Tourism is one area where we can work together.”

Zafra Zafeen, an embassy official, talked about the culture, food, climate and sightseeing locations in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital.

Attendees included diplomats and stakeholders from the tourism sector.

Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka on Tuesday signed a new agreement on the employment of workers, opening up more opportunities in the Kingdom for professionals from the crisis-hit island nation.


Saudi Arabia, China sign transport agreement

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Saudi Arabia, China sign transport agreement

Saudi Arabia, China sign transport agreement

 

RIYADH: The transport ministers of Saudi Arabia and China — Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser and Li Xiaopeng — signed an agreement on Wednesday to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement aims to see an exchange of expertise in modern transport methods, including the use of high-tech methods to enhance roads, build autonomous vehicles, and improve shipping and the running of ports.

During his visit to China, Al-Jasser attended the World Forum on Sustainable Transport in Beijing, and met with senior government officials, as well as leaders of transport and logistics companies.

Al-Jasser highlighted the importance of mutual cooperation and investments, saying Saudi Arabia had ambitious plans for the industry as part of a national strategy for transport and logistics.


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Saudi Arabia’s transformation akin to Japan’s rise: Ambassador Iwai

Saudi Arabia’s transformation akin to Japan’s rise: Ambassador Iwai
Updated 29 September 2023
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Saudi Arabia’s transformation akin to Japan’s rise: Ambassador Iwai

Saudi Arabia’s transformation akin to Japan’s rise: Ambassador Iwai
  • Similarities in developments in industry, culture, job creation, and the passion of the people

Saudi Arabia’s remarkable economic and social transformation now underway is much like the rise of Japan several decades ago, according to Tokyo’s envoy Fumio Iwai.

Japan’s ambassador made the comments in a lecture on Sept. 28 titled “Experience of Japan through Meiji Restoration” at Abdulrahman Al-Sudairy Cultural Center in Sakaka, Jouf province.

Iwai said there were considerable similarities between the two nations including the developments in industry, culture, job creation, and the passion of the people.

He also exchanged opinions with members of the audience during a question-and-answer session.

Prior to the lecture, Iwai met with Prince Faisal bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, the governor of Jouf.

He had earlier met with Jouf University’s president Dr. Mohammed bin Mufrij Al-Huwaiti, and visited the local chamber of commerce, as well as the Nawwaf Al-Rashed Heritage Museum.

In a post on X, Iwai said the visit was a “fun experience, but at the same time very difficult, especially in the question-and-answer session.”

“I once again realized the limitations of my listening and understanding skills in Arabic,” he added.

 


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Saudi human rights chief meets UK minister
Updated 29 September 2023
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Saudi human rights chief meets UK minister

Saudi human rights chief meets UK minister

RIYADH: Hala Al-Tuwaijri, Saudi human rights commission president, met with Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK minister for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the UN.

On a state visit to the UK, Al-Tuwaijri reviewed the Kingdom’s historic legislative reforms and developments in the field of human rights since the adoption of Saudi Vision 2030, stressing the keenness of the Saudi leadership to enhance and protect human rights, the HRC said.

The HRC president also visited the Slynn Foundation, discussing with officials there ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise in the field of human rights.


Saudi, Bahraini FMs chair coordination meeting in Manama

Saudi, Bahraini FMs chair coordination meeting in Manama
Updated 29 September 2023
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Saudi, Bahraini FMs chair coordination meeting in Manama

Saudi, Bahraini FMs chair coordination meeting in Manama

MANAMA: RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani chaired the second meeting of the political coordination committee of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council on Thursday in Manama.
The two sides reviewed bilateral relations, and discussed ways to enhance them and boost cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Faisal and Al-Zayani also presided over the first meeting of the council’s preparatory committee, which evaluated the progress made in the work of the subcommittees, and the initiatives launched during the council’s second meeting in 2021.
They also reviewed new initiatives that will be introduced during the council’s third meeting, as well as draft agreements and memorandums of understanding that will be signed between the two sides.
The meetings are part of Prince Faisal’s visit to Manama, where he met with Bahrain’s King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad.