Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia have agreed to launch a joint campaign to revive the tourism industry, which is at risk due to the Covid pandemic.The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga and the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, Hon.Ahmed Al Khateeb agreed to launch a joint campaign to build the tourism industry during a discussion held in 12^th afternoon through zoom technology.

The Minister of Tourism,Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga briefed the Saudi  Arabian Minister of Tourism on the steps taken by the government to develop Sri Lanka's tourism industry and that the Sri Lankan tourism industry has been at a critical juncture for the past three years due to the Easter attack and the Covid pandemic.  The Minister pointed out that by the end of this year, 60% of the country's population will be vaccinated against Covid.  He said that the government has already started vaccinating those engaged in the tourism industry in the country and it will be possible to fully vaccinate them within the next one month, adding that the government hopes to make Sri Lanka a Covid safe country.

The Minister requested the Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism to assist Sri Lanka on its ongoing global promotion campaigns of tourism development, and Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism, Hon.Ahmed Al Khateeb stated that Saudi Arabia has always supported Sri Lanka.

Hon. Hon.Ahmed Al Khateeb expressed his confidence that the world tourism industry would recover by 2022.Saudi Arabia is currently ranked 22nd in terms of tourist arrivals, and steps will be taken to direct more tourists to Sri Lanka in the future, said Hon.Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism.

Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Mr.S. Hettiarachchi also participated in this discussion through zoom technology.