{"id":11348,"date":"2026-06-07T19:02:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T13:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meetinsrilanka.com\/?post_type=mice-update&p=11348"},"modified":"2026-06-08T20:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T15:23:18","slug":"hon-prof-ruwan-ranasinghe-recognized-as-a-key-global-personality-in-tourism-at-sitf-2026-seoul-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"mice-update","link":"https:\/\/meetinsrilanka.com\/de\/mice-update\/hon-prof-ruwan-ranasinghe-recognized-as-a-key-global-personality-in-tourism-at-sitf-2026-seoul-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Hon. Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe Recognized as a Key Global Personality in Tourism at SITF 2026 \u2013 Seoul, South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hon. Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe Recognized as a Key Global Personality in Tourism at SITF 2026 \u2013 Seoul, South Korea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

Sri Lanka Tourism proudly announces that Hon. Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism<\/strong>, has been honored with the prestigious 2026 SITF Eminent Tourism Pioneer Award<\/strong> at the 41st Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF)<\/strong>, held on June 4, 2026<\/strong> at IL-HWA-DANG, SamcheongGak, Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This recognition is the result of a rigorous annual evaluation and research process<\/strong> conducted by the SITF Tourism Award Committee, which carefully assesses both academic contributions and industrial involvement in the global tourism sector. Each year, only a select few individuals are chosen after extensive scrutiny, making this honour one of the most respected accolades in the international tourism community.<\/p>\n

In 2026, three distinguished domestic leaders from Korea and three international personalities<\/strong> were selected for their lifelong dedication to the tourism industry. For the first time in the 41-year history of SITF<\/strong>, a Sri Lankan has been nominated and recognized among this elite group. Hon. Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe\u2019s selection marks a historic milestone for Sri Lanka<\/strong>, positioning the nation prominently within the global tourism landscape.<\/p>\n

Receiving this award is not only a personal achievement for Prof. Ranasinghe but also a unique and impressive recognition for the Government of Sri Lanka and its commitment to advancing the tourism industry<\/strong>. It reflects the country\u2019s growing influence and credibility in both practical and research-driven tourism development, reinforcing Sri Lanka\u2019s ambition to emerge as a destination of authenticity, diversity, and innovation.<\/p>\n

Hon. Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe expressed his gratitude, stating:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is my great privilege to be selected as a recipient of the SITF Eminent Tourism Pioneer Award. This honour is not only a personal milestone but also a testament to Sri Lanka\u2019s growing recognition as a premier travel destination. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the organizers, partners, and colleagues who continue to champion tourism as a force for global connection and prosperity. Together, we will keep working to elevate Sri Lanka\u2019s tourism industry and share our island\u2019s diverse experiences with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

This accolade underscores Sri Lanka\u2019s emergence as a key global player in tourism<\/strong>, highlighting the nation\u2019s dedication to sustainable growth, cultural exchange, and academic excellence in tourism research. It serves as a powerful opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka\u2019s forward-looking vision and high expectations for becoming a leader in both practical and scholarly contributions to the world tourism sector.<\/p>\n

Media Team , <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka Tourism <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Hon. Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe Recognized as a Key Global Personality in Tourism at SITF 2026 \u2013 Seoul, South Korea<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":11351,"template":"","class_list":["post-11348","mice-update","type-mice-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetinsrilanka.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/mice-update\/11348"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetinsrilanka.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/mice-update"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetinsrilanka.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/mice-update"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meetinsrilanka.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetinsrilanka.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}