Saturday Feb 07, 2009
The worlds foremost traveller Prof. Orhan Kural, identified Sri Lanka without conflict, as one of the top destinations for Globe trotters. Kural who hails from Turkey has been to 190 countries travelling over 900,000 km across the Globe.

He believes that Sri Lanka has all the necessary ingredients to be recognised as one of the foremost destinations in world tourism.

Addressing the media during his third visit to the country, Prof. Kural admitted that he had a soft spot for Sri Lanka which was influenced by the local culture, diversity of nature, traditional hospitality etc. which made the country a unique destination for travelers.

As the world’s most travelled person, Kural believes that, when a country loses out on environment, that it would also lose its tourist potential.

Travel according to him helps people to get to know each other and remove prejudices.

A mining engineer by profession and an environmentalist by passion, Kural believes that Sri Lanka is yet to identify its full potential which lies according to him in the countries unique culture, traditions, nature etc.

“I would not like to come here to eat Pizzas and drink Coca-Cola” he says with a twinkle in his eye. He is of the belief that Sri Lanka should base its tourist appeal in the rural areas using its natural habitats to the maximum effect.

Prof. Kural who is currently visiting the country with 36 other members from a travellers club in Turkey hopes to promote Sri Lanka’s cause in Turkey which has a 70 million population, as a tourism friendly destination. Also according to him, he is to use his considerable influence with Turkish authorities to open up an embassy to propagate the cause.

The Professor who has already written 12 travel books also hopes to write one on Sri Lanka shortly. Also according to Dr. Geethanjana Mendis, Sri Lanka hopes to propose Prof. Kural to the Guinness book of records as the Worlds most travelled person.

The book COAL is considered as the most important written work by Prof. Kural on his primary profession. It has been prepared over a period of six years with the contributions of 52 authors and 157 scientists from 61 countries.

The leaders of 22 countries has expressed their views in the preface of the book. The book is currently being studied at mining faculties in the universities of 20 different countries.

He established Gezginler Kulübü (Travelers Club) in Istanbul, which is the first ever, travellers club in Turkey. It now has about 270 members with famous authors, photographers, scientists among them.

According to him he plans to organise more tourist groups to Sri Lanka from Turkey, with another batch of 45 due in a couple of weeks.

His latest visit to Sri Lanka was organised by the Lions Paradise Travels (Pvt) ltd.

Source: DAILY NEWS
Author: Rasika SOMARATHNA