Three Quick Ones – Samudika Weliweriyage

Samudika Weliweryage is a PhD-student in tourism studies at Mid Sweden University since 2022. Her research field is consumer behaviour and pro-environmental behaviours in tourism. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management, from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and a master’s degree in Tourism and Destination Development from Dalarna University.

What are the key factors to develop sustainable travel practices further?

There are many ways. However, the most effective way to promote sustainable travel is by making it easier, more enjoyable, and cost-effective. In tourism, where pleasure is a priority, encouraging sustainable practices can be challenging without these factors. For example, Åre a popular mountain biking destination in Sweden, is accessible via sustainable transportation like trains. However, most visitors still rely on fossil fuel-based cars. Research shows that this is because sustainable travel options are often seen as inconvenient, expensive, and less enjoyable compared to their counterparts. Addressing these issues requires multi-stakeholder collaboration between the public and private sectors to make sustainable travel more appealing.

What key trends do we observe in the post-pandemic travel and tourism sector?

Among many trends a few that stand out include revenge travel, the rise of workations and digital nomadism, heightened interest in wellness tourism, transformative tourism and nature-based tourism in peripheral regions. One of the most immediate changes in tourist behaviours was revenge travel, which resulted in a sharp increase in tourists’ long-distance travel due to the pandemic fatigue. Another emerging travel trend is workations and digital nomadism. Remote working became normalized during the pandemic, vastly changing people’s perception of how and where we work and our work-life balance. As a result, many individuals are now realizing their dreams of visiting tourist destinations without compromising their professional lives.

As mentioned previously, the pandemic was a wake-up call for many individuals regarding their physical and mental well-being. This further accelerated the popularity of wellness and transformative tourism activities such as yoga and spa retreats, adventure tourism activities focused on improving physical activity, and nature-based tourism. 

How can the Sri Lankan tourist industry attract Swedish tourists further?

First, work with market insights. Understand the market, especially the different tourist segments within the Swedish market, their demographics, their travel needs, preferences and travel planning behaviors. This calls for collaboration with different players such as Swedish tourism authorities, industry associations, travel and tour operators and so forth. Based on these insights, the Sri Lankan tourism offer and its value propositions must be further explored and aligned with the needs of the identified market segments. The next, crucial step is to maintain and execute a consistent and integrated destination marketing campaign to effectively reach the Swedish market.

Afternoon Tea at the Embassy

29th August H.E Ambassador Fonseka hosted members of SSLBC for afternoon tea at the embassy in Stockholm.

SSLBC extend our heartfelt thanks for inviting our members to the delightful afternoon tea yesterday. The event was highly appreciated by all attendees and serves as a solid foundation for continued collaboration.

The Business Council eagerly anticipates future joint engagements in Stockholm and other parts of Sweden, fostering our mutual objectives and strengthening our partnership.

Additionally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the embassy staff for their impeccable organisation and warm hospitality. Their efforts significantly contributed to the success of the event.

New members

We offer different categories of membership. This time we would like to introduce one Swedish private member and one associated member from Sri Lanka.

Mats Thorner from Sweden is a new member of SSLBC. Mats is working together with our new associated member Sachin Lakshitha.

Mats is a senior freelance journalist, marketing specialist, and photographer.

Sachin is a skilled specialist in photo and video editing, among other areas.

 They have collaborated on various projects over the past 5-6 years. They tell us that they are currently planning to launch a 3D printing service in Sri Lanka.

We hope that their membership will be of mutual benefit to them and all other members of SSLBC.

Welcome to the fast-growing network of companies and individuals doing business between Sweden and Sri Lanka!

Colombo International & Logistics Conference 2024

Colombo International Maritime & Logistics Conference 2024, 27th to 29th November, 2024

 

This is to inform you that the 7th edition of the Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference   will be held from 27th to 29th November, 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

 

Sri Lanka which is located in a unique geographical position in the Southern sea route is cost effective and connected with modern infrastructure.  At this unique event, an impressive array of leading industry figures will provide their input on why you should position in Sri Lanka to reap profits of logistics.

 

The conference will pave the way for the participants to  engage with their peers, suppliers and competitors, consider new opportunities, expand existing relationships and start building new ones for business;  and  

–          Gathering all the insights and intelligence

–          Be part of the most sought after destination and an emerging logistics hub in the Indian Ocean

–          Meet all the people that matter

–          Consider new opportunities

–          Determine where rest of the field is headed

–          Connect on a personal level- enjoy a range of informal opportunities to get to know your global and regional industry better, including at the pre-conference field visits, cocktail etc.

–          Help determine the size and the shape of tomorrow’s industry- make your voice heard and put your company at the centre of the debate about transforming supply chains with people & technology in the driving seat

 

E-flyer is attached for dissemination.

For more information and registration, please visit the website:  https://www.cimc.lk/

 

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm appreciates it, if you could share information about this conference among  those who are  engaged in the following fields/companies  and encourage them to participate in this.  

 

–          Distribution Companies

–          Wholesale importers /exporters of products

–          Logistics Companies-3PL/4PL

–          Warehousing companies

–          Technological hardware equipment companies for logistics

–          Technological software & innovation product companies for logistics

–          Business opportunities/ partnership seekers

–          Investment opportunity seekers