A new Buddhist pilgrimage tour package, “Buddha Wandana”, was launched in Colombo on Thursday (16) to coincide with the introduction of direct flights between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, in a move aimed at attracting more Buddhist pilgrims from Vietnam and other East Asian countries.

The initiative, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, is expected to expand religious tourism while generating economic opportunities for rural communities, local tourism service providers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in line with the Government’s inclusive economic growth policy.

Speaking at the launch, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam said the tourism sector had played a key role in the country’s economic recovery and noted growing tourism links between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. He said the new Buddhist trail package would help diversify Sri Lanka’s tourism offerings while improving access to the Vietnamese market.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Trinh Thi Tam, welcomed the initiative and expressed confidence that cooperation between the two countries would continue to expand across multiple sectors. She said introducing the Buddhist trail to the Vietnamese market would help reach a wider audience of travellers.

St. Andrew Travel Company Chairman Mahen Kariyawasam acknowledged the contributions of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism (ASMET) in developing the package, describing it as an important step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as a destination for Buddhist pilgrimage and cultural tourism.

Direct flights between Vietnam and Sri Lanka are scheduled to begin on Aug. 18, facilitating greater travel and trade between the two countries. (Newswire)

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