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Seethawaka becomes South Asia’s second sustainable Tourist Destination

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In conjunction with the Wetland Park Summit held in Colombo, Sithawaka, Avissawella Tourism Zone is declared as a sustainable tourism zone and an eco-friendly attractive sustainable Tourism Zone.

Sithawaka Wetland Botanical Garden has been declared as an eco-friendly tourist destination.

The second region of Sri Lanka that has become a sustainable tourism region, which is a unique tourism concept in the world, is the Sithawaka Wetland.

The announcement of Seethawaka, Avissawella Tourism Zone as a sustainable tourism zone and the naming of Sithawaka Botanical Garden as an eco-friendly tourist destination was made under the patronage of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister, Bandula Gunawardhana, in conjunction with the first International Wetlands Association Australia, New Zealand and Asia Summit.

More than a hundred environmentalists from 15 countries who came to the island for the Wetland Summit joined a special tour of attractive tourist spots including the Seethawaka Botanical Garden and the Kalatuwawa Water Treatment Plant by the Seethawaka Odyssey train. During the train journey, the Colombo Golf Course and the ecosystem around Kithul Kanda Mountain range were also observed by them.

Minister Gunawardhana unveiled the commemorative plaque set up at Seethawaka Botanical Garden and officially marked the declaration of Seethawaka, Avissawella Tourism Zone as a sustainable tourism zone.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said that Seethawaka region, which is a geographically, ecologically and historically unique and rich region, has a very special importance as a tourist area. Some time ago, present Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, former Speaker Githanjana Gunawardena, and former Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge have made a special commitment to establish Seethawaka Botanical Garden.

The Minister also pointed out that the start of the Seethawaka Odyssey tourist train is one of his ideas as the Minister of Transport in order to further popularize this area among local and foreign tourists. The Minister also pointed out that the growth of local and foreign tourists has had a significant beneficial effect on the macro-economic variables such as output, income, employment, price level, balance of payments, savings and investment of the local people.

The Minister said that it is essential to identify such tourist zones and that the aim of such programmes is to get the world’s eco-friendly tourism attraction to Sri Lanka, and that the economy of the area as well as the country’s economy will improve through the increase in foreign tourists.

The Minister emphasised that by contributing to the further development of this concept, Seethawaka region will join the ranks of special tourist destinations like Ella and Hikkaduwa in the future. The Minister also said that it is expected to start more such tourist zones in the country in the future.

Sugath Hewapathirana, Chairman of the Western Province Tourism Board, stated that the aim of this is to make Seethawaka town a tourist area that has attracted the attention of the whole world as a centre for a new tourist destination. The Chairman also mentioned that the Western Province of Sri Lanka programme, which takes the tourist destinations and unknown locations of the Western Province to the world, has been introduced to Japan, India, Italy, Brazil and China.

The programme was jointly organised by the Western Province Tourist Board and the Land Development Corporation with the advice and guidance of Urban Development Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation Rear Admiral Hiran Balasuriya, General Manager of Sri Lanka Railway Department V. S. Polwattage including more than a hundred environmentalists from abroad and many other guests participated in this event.

The post Seethawaka becomes South Asia’s second sustainable Tourist Destination appeared first on DailyNews.

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