BSL holds its Annual Technical Sessions each ye

ar preceding its Annual General Meeting, to provide an opportunity for its membership to obtain thorough technical expertise on a particular topic, selected based on the need of the hour and any specific requests received from members. Given the dire situation of the Sri Lankan tourism industry currently, BSL felt it was pertinent and apt to host a session that would support the representatives of the industry, to learn and take away a tool that could be applied and adapted to envision a more positive future for their organizations and also enable them to take advantage of a situation which may not on the surface present them with any positive outlets, and turn them into opportunities that would spur innovation, improvement and leadership.

As such, BSL is partnering with the East-West Center in Hawaii, USA - an independent, public, nonprofit organization and a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options – and Vision Foresight Strategy LLC - a foresight and strategic analysis firm which combines leading edge quantitative and qualitative foresight methodologies to assist government and corporate clients with anticipating the risks and opportunities presented by emerging conflict and security issues – together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance and BSL’s Associate Member - the United Nations Development Programme - to organize a unique futures roadmap development exercise targeted specially for uptake by professionals representing the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

BSL’s 85 organization strong cross-sectoral membership includes representation of the industry by many hospitality and tourism companies comprising micro enterprises to large conglomerates, which have local, regional and global presence and reach, and contribute significantly towards the economy of Sri Lanka.

 

Proposed Agenda (based on IST)

08:30 – 09:00hrs Registrations

09:00 – 09:10hrs Welcome and Objectives of the Event

Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando – Chairman of the Board of Directors, Biodiversity Sri Lanka and Chief Executive Officer, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC

Facebook live streaming begins

09:10 – 09:25hrs Learning Exchange and Exposure Opportunities for Sri Lanka and the Tourism Industry through the East-West Center (Virtual)

Ms. Christina Monroe – Leadership Programme Senior Manager, East-West Center, Hawaii, USA

09:25 – 10:10hrs Developing a Foresight Roadmap for Nature-based Tourism in Sri Lanka (Virtual)

Dr. Richard Lum – Chief Executive Officer, Vision Foresight Strategy LLC (through introduction via the East-West Center), Hawaii, USA

10:10 – 10:30hrs Q&A and Discussion

Facebook live streaming ends

10:30 – 10:50hrs The National Sustainable Tourism Certification Scheme: A Tool to Direct the Industry Towards Sustainability Post COVID-19

Ms. Dhammika Wijesinghe – Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority

10:50 – 11:10hrs Building a Resilient and Sustainable Tourism Industry for All

Mr. Henry Fitch – Representative, Advisory Group, Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance and Chief Executive Officer, Teardrop Hotels

11:10 – 11:30hrs Q&A and Discussion

11:30 – 11:45hrs Summary of Learnings and Key Takeaways

Mr. Ramitha Wijethunga – National Programme Officer, United Nations Development Programme, Sri Lanka

11:45 – 12:00hrs Refreshments and Networking

BSL holds its Annual Technical Sessions each ye

ar preceding its Annual General Meeting, to provide an opportunity for its membership to obtain thorough technical expertise on a particular topic, selected based on the need of the hour and any specific requests received from members. Given the dire situation of the Sri Lankan tourism industry currently, BSL felt it was pertinent and apt to host a session that would support the representatives of the industry, to learn and take away a tool that could be applied and adapted to envision a more positive future for their organizations and also enable them to take advantage of a situation which may not on the surface present them with any positive outlets, and turn them into opportunities that would spur innovation, improvement and leadership.

As such, BSL is partnering with the East-West Center in Hawaii, USA - an independent, public, nonprofit organization and a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options – and Vision Foresight Strategy LLC - a foresight and strategic analysis firm which combines leading edge quantitative and qualitative foresight methodologies to assist government and corporate clients with anticipating the risks and opportunities presented by emerging conflict and security issues – together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance and BSL’s Associate Member - the United Nations Development Programme - to organize a unique futures roadmap development exercise targeted specially for uptake by professionals representing the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

BSL’s 85 organization strong cross-sectoral membership includes representation of the industry by many hospitality and tourism companies comprising micro enterprises to large conglomerates, which have local, regional and global presence and reach, and contribute significantly towards the economy of Sri Lanka.

 

Proposed Agenda (based on IST)

08:30 – 09:00hrs Registrations

09:00 – 09:10hrs Welcome and Objectives of the Event

Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando – Chairman of the Board of Directors, Biodiversity Sri Lanka and Chief Executive Officer, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC

Facebook live streaming begins

09:10 – 09:25hrs Learning Exchange and Exposure Opportunities for Sri Lanka and the Tourism Industry through the East-West Center (Virtual)

Ms. Christina Monroe – Leadership Programme Senior Manager, East-West Center, Hawaii, USA

09:25 – 10:10hrs Developing a Foresight Roadmap for Nature-based Tourism in Sri Lanka (Virtual)

Dr. Richard Lum – Chief Executive Officer, Vision Foresight Strategy LLC (through introduction via the East-West Center), Hawaii, USA

10:10 – 10:30hrs Q&A and Discussion

Facebook live streaming ends

10:30 – 10:50hrs The National Sustainable Tourism Certification Scheme: A Tool to Direct the Industry Towards Sustainability Post COVID-19

Ms. Dhammika Wijesinghe – Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority

10:50 – 11:10hrs Building a Resilient and Sustainable Tourism Industry for All

Mr. Henry Fitch – Representative, Advisory Group, Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance and Chief Executive Officer, Teardrop Hotels

11:10 – 11:30hrs Q&A and Discussion

11:30 – 11:45hrs Summary of Learnings and Key Takeaways

Mr. Ramitha Wijethunga – National Programme Officer, United Nations Development Programme, Sri Lanka

11:45 – 12:00hrs Refreshments and Networking