The Sri Lankan Embassy in Stockholm, together with the staff conducted a tourist outreach, promotional event “A glimpse of Sri Lanka” at the Wallenbergs Torg, Stockholm, and an open air venue located at the city centre on the 13th of August 2016. This central location made it convenient for the city dwellers, tourists visiting Stockholm, all passers-by, to take a moment of their time on this sunny weekend to witness, several aspects of culture and tourism that Sri Lanka had to offer to the world.
As the bright and sunny weather conditions prevailing in Scandinavia is the time of the year that usually provokes a festive mood, and motivates people to ponder over their next holiday destinations, the Embassy seized the opportunity to conduct the event in the month of August in the height of the summer season.
The large sized LED digital screen at the venue arranged by the Embassy, relayed cultural and tourism promotions on Sri Lanka, creating the visual impact of the beauty of the country, hopefully allowing the visitors contemplate on Sri Lanka, as their next holiday destination.
The sprawling extent of the area at Wallenbergs Torg, offered the Embassy the flexibility to display posters and other cultural artefacts of Sri Lanka, illustrating the beauty and the rich cultural heritage Sri Lanka is endowed with.
Introducing Sri Lankan music to the public and to add more colour and vibrancy to the event, a group of Sri Lankan expatriates, clad in typical batik sarongs wearing straw hats presented songs much to the delight of those present on the occasion.
The information centre set up by the Embassy at the venue, provided clarifications and disseminated tourist brochures to a good many inquiring visitors. Live demonstration of making Hoppers and, Dosa was taken by storm, drawing large crowds interested in exploring the art of Sri Lankan cuisine. The visitors savoured the flavours of other varieties of Sri Lankan food as well.
Other attractions included the tea stall projecting an assortment of Ceylon tea presented artistically to generate interest amongst the onlooker curious to learn more about Ceylon tea. The slightly chilly afternoon combined with the comfortable seating arrangements made available at the stall, created the perfect ambiance for the visitors to sit back and enjoy a relaxed conversation with their friends, over a “cup of Ceylon Tea”.
This prime venue, the Wallenbergs Torg, was made accessible to the Sri Lanka Embassy on the basis of an agreement the Embassy reached with the Stockholm Stad (The municipality of Stockholm Organization).
The Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Ceylon Tea Board played a pivotal role in lending their hand to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm to bring the event to fruition. Many Sri Lankan expatriates extended their support in numerous ways to conduct the event.
In keeping with the saying “seeing is believing” the Embassy conducted the event, successfully paving way to reach out directly to the client, which is considered one of the most effective methods of promoting tourism.
In consonant with the title of the event “A glimpse of Sri Lanka” this activity helped spread the word about Sri Lanka, as one of the exquisite destinations in the world.