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Monday, 28 February 2011
Sri Lanka Tourism promotes the "Wonder of Asia" at the New York Times Travel Show
Sri Lanka Tourism and SriLankan Airlines took part at the North America's premier travel event "The New York Times Travel Show" held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre in New York City from February 25-27, 2011. The 2011 show attracted over 16,000 travel professionals and enthusiasts as well as over 600 exhibitors representing over150 countries. This year the event is expected to draw over 40,000 highly coveted consumers and 7,000 trade professionals. Sri Lanka Tourism and SriLankan Airlines have consecutively participated at this show since its inauguration.
The Sri Lanka Tourism booth was officially opened on Friday, Feb 25 by Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka`s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona and Head of SriLankan Airlines in North America and Honorary Director for Sri Lanka Tourism in the US Dillan Ariyawansa. Also present was the PATA Chairman Hiran Cooray along with other distinguished guests.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
PIA resumes flights to Sri Lanka after three years
President Asif Ali Zardari was keen that we recommence flights to Sri Lanka to strengthen trade and encourage tourism between the two countries. This was a sequel to a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, Managing Director of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Nadheem Yousufzai told the Sunday Observer .
Yousufzai opened their General Sales Agent (GSA), The Bottom Line Travels’ office in Colpetty on Tuesday. The Director of The Bottom Line Travels, Shane Gunawijeya said, “At present we have three flights to Karachi a week but we are hoping to increase the frequency to five flights per week and also fly to Lahore in the next few months”.
We plan to launch our inbound travel packages for tourists who visit Sri Lanka and encourage tourism between the two countries” said Gunawijeya. Yousufzai said, “Discussions are under way with officials of SriLankan Airlines to identify training gaps and allow them to access our training facilities so that we can share best practices. Trade between the two countries has a long history. Sri Lanka is the biggest single exporter of betel leaves to Pakistan which has the world’s highest betel consumption.
This new development will also strengthen Pakistan’s relationship with Sri Lanka. PIA is also offering discounted airfares to pilgrims from Sri Lanka who wish to visit holy sites in Pakistan, which has one of the earliest Buddhist civilisations that many are unaware of”. PIA is committed to promoting Sri Lanka as a lucrative business and peaceful travel destination to the global market, said Yousufzai.
The process of appointing the GSA in the country was completed within a short period as The Bottom Line Travels were able to demonstrate good operational credibility. This new venture will be extremely complementary to the soaring tourism industry of Sri Lanka, said Yousufzai.
www.sundayobserver.lk
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Sri Lanka : among the top ten places to visit in 2011
"2011 looks as if it will be a bright year for Sri Lankan tourism, with officials laying on different events every month to drum up interest as part of the "Visit Sri Lanka Year."", the London-based "The Independent" reports. The Independent's article titled: "2011's tourism hot spots: What to do in Sri Lanka," describes how travelers can enjoy in Sri Lanka – from watching world-class cricket to tasting world-famous Ceylon tea.
this year, Sri Lankan tourism authorities are aiming for 700,000 and by 2016 the country hopes to pull in 2.5 million overseas visitors annually, although analysts have warned that the tourism infrastructure will need improving to cope with the expected demand - there were only an estimated 15,000 rooms in the country as of March 2010. Nevertheless, 2011 looks as if it will be a bright year for Sri Lankan tourism, with officials laying on different events every month to drum up interest as part of the "Visit Sri Lanka Year", the article states.
As a result of eradication of terrorism, Sri Lanka's major industry – Tourism is noe seen geared up with increasing number of tourists coming in.
www.sinhalaya.com
this year, Sri Lankan tourism authorities are aiming for 700,000 and by 2016 the country hopes to pull in 2.5 million overseas visitors annually, although analysts have warned that the tourism infrastructure will need improving to cope with the expected demand - there were only an estimated 15,000 rooms in the country as of March 2010. Nevertheless, 2011 looks as if it will be a bright year for Sri Lankan tourism, with officials laying on different events every month to drum up interest as part of the "Visit Sri Lanka Year", the article states.
As a result of eradication of terrorism, Sri Lanka's major industry – Tourism is noe seen geared up with increasing number of tourists coming in.
www.sinhalaya.com
Six Senses to open Sri Lanka resorts
Six Senses Resorts & Spas – in partnership with Favourite Group, Auro Holdings and Timex Garments – has signed an agreement with Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, to establish its first two Six Senses projects in Sri Lanka.
The US$45m (£28m, 33m euro) deal will see two Six Senses resorts being developed on the island.
Six Senses Galle Resort and Spa will include residential villas and will be located on a 10.5-acre plot.
Six Senses Meeraladuaa will be de an ecological, environmentally very low impact site offering accommodation in “semi tented structures” on a 27-acre island nearby. The proposed opening date for both properties is late 2012.
As part of the deal Six Senses intends to make Sri Lanka its Indian Ocean regional headquarters, from which to oversee all future operations in the region.
Six Senses currently operates fourteen high-end resorts branded as Soneva, Six Senses and Evason in the Maldives, Thailand, Vietnam, Oman and Jordan.
There are also several new developments underway in locations such as Morocco, Turks and Caicos and China.
The Six Senses Spa division has twenty-seven company-operated spas, with new spa developments underway in several locations, including India, Morocco and, Oman.
www.spaopportunities.com
The US$45m (£28m, 33m euro) deal will see two Six Senses resorts being developed on the island.
Six Senses Galle Resort and Spa will include residential villas and will be located on a 10.5-acre plot.
Six Senses Meeraladuaa will be de an ecological, environmentally very low impact site offering accommodation in “semi tented structures” on a 27-acre island nearby. The proposed opening date for both properties is late 2012.
As part of the deal Six Senses intends to make Sri Lanka its Indian Ocean regional headquarters, from which to oversee all future operations in the region.
Six Senses currently operates fourteen high-end resorts branded as Soneva, Six Senses and Evason in the Maldives, Thailand, Vietnam, Oman and Jordan.
There are also several new developments underway in locations such as Morocco, Turks and Caicos and China.
The Six Senses Spa division has twenty-seven company-operated spas, with new spa developments underway in several locations, including India, Morocco and, Oman.
www.spaopportunities.com
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Sri Lanka plans for tourism industry boom
Sri Lanka will be positioned as a high-end tourism destination focusing more on quality service delivery. The tourism industry will be developed under an integrated program where all stakeholders especially the small and medium products and service providers will have wider opportunities to benefit from industrial growth. In keeping with this concept, Sancharaka Udawa was launched in Colombo yesterday.
Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka Past President Srilal Miththapala and eTurboNews ambassador, along with Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators President Nilmin Nanayakkara and Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa at the "Sancharaka Udawa" were among those meeting at the tourism products meet mart held yesterday.
The boom in the tourist industry will provide ample economic opportunities and the sector should ensure that economic benefits would spread into every strata of society.
The small and medium products and service providers need to be encouraged to be more proactive towards the industry where a comprehensive approach for maximum use of resources will be in place shortly, Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Nilmin Nanayakkara told Daily News Business.
“We require to combine all segments with different interests to work closely for mutual benefit. We promote the home stay concept because today the demand for such interactive holidays are very high,” President Nanayakkara said. The SLAITO is of the view that it should support the tourism industry growth. For this, stakeholders cannot only be offering normal traditional tours and need to infuse modern world changing needs.
“There are a whole lot of boutique hotels coming up in different parts of the country. Some of them are of high standard and the concept is positive. However, the marketing and promotion arm is not strong and, therefore, do not derive the maximum benefit. The idea of Sancharaka Udawa is to introduce unexposed informal sector products through a formal sector and give our members an opportunity,” he said.
The measures taken will create an opportunity for income generation in the industry to all levels of society basically taking tourism to the masses.
All tourism-related providers in Sri Lanka showcased their products and services in the aspects of home-stay, bungalows, and villas, transportation, jeep hiring services, soft adventure suppliers to build and maintain close linkages with main stream operators for business development. Opportunity also exists in industrial automation solution, tourist information kiosks, agricultural tourism, wedding planning for tourists, and cooking by color for sustainable growth in the tourism industry.
Source: dailynews.lk
Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka Past President Srilal Miththapala and eTurboNews ambassador, along with Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators President Nilmin Nanayakkara and Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa at the "Sancharaka Udawa" were among those meeting at the tourism products meet mart held yesterday.
The boom in the tourist industry will provide ample economic opportunities and the sector should ensure that economic benefits would spread into every strata of society.
The small and medium products and service providers need to be encouraged to be more proactive towards the industry where a comprehensive approach for maximum use of resources will be in place shortly, Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Nilmin Nanayakkara told Daily News Business.
“We require to combine all segments with different interests to work closely for mutual benefit. We promote the home stay concept because today the demand for such interactive holidays are very high,” President Nanayakkara said. The SLAITO is of the view that it should support the tourism industry growth. For this, stakeholders cannot only be offering normal traditional tours and need to infuse modern world changing needs.
“There are a whole lot of boutique hotels coming up in different parts of the country. Some of them are of high standard and the concept is positive. However, the marketing and promotion arm is not strong and, therefore, do not derive the maximum benefit. The idea of Sancharaka Udawa is to introduce unexposed informal sector products through a formal sector and give our members an opportunity,” he said.
The measures taken will create an opportunity for income generation in the industry to all levels of society basically taking tourism to the masses.
All tourism-related providers in Sri Lanka showcased their products and services in the aspects of home-stay, bungalows, and villas, transportation, jeep hiring services, soft adventure suppliers to build and maintain close linkages with main stream operators for business development. Opportunity also exists in industrial automation solution, tourist information kiosks, agricultural tourism, wedding planning for tourists, and cooking by color for sustainable growth in the tourism industry.
Source: dailynews.lk
Sri Lanka tourism on the rise as peace persists
Sri Lanka said it hopes tourism will be on the rise in the next few years as a hard-won peace settles into the area.
The Indian Ocean island nation said the end of its three-decade long war with Tamil Tigers after the defeat of rebels in May 2009 should see a big influx in tourism over the next couple of years. The much-needed jump to the country’s tourism sector could largely benefit the nation’s economy.
Last month, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) recorded the arrival of its 600,000th foreign visitor. The SLT said it hopes that 2011 will see 700,000 tourists and by 2016, arrivals could hit as high as 2.5 million.
Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa said that the largest investment the country can make in the tourism industry is by keeping peace on the island. He adds that if there is no peace, then there will be no tourists.
Yet, Rajapaksa cautions that the government will retain a minimalist approach to intervening in tourism, aside from its role as a facilitator, and let the industry emerge and develop on its own. Sri Lanka’s natural beauty has been overshadowed by its war-torn history, but it boasts the world’s best beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and heritage sites. Furthermore, it has some of the planet’s most unique ecosystems.
Rajapaska said that the island has been blessed with beaches, exotic wildlife and waterfalls and that the nation has a hard-earned reputation for their hospitality.
Currently, India and the UK are the largest markets for tourism in Sri Lanka. The UK has some of the biggest arrival numbers and authorities say that most UK tourists tend to stay the longest on the island.
The Indian Ocean island nation said the end of its three-decade long war with Tamil Tigers after the defeat of rebels in May 2009 should see a big influx in tourism over the next couple of years. The much-needed jump to the country’s tourism sector could largely benefit the nation’s economy.
Last month, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) recorded the arrival of its 600,000th foreign visitor. The SLT said it hopes that 2011 will see 700,000 tourists and by 2016, arrivals could hit as high as 2.5 million.
Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa said that the largest investment the country can make in the tourism industry is by keeping peace on the island. He adds that if there is no peace, then there will be no tourists.
Yet, Rajapaksa cautions that the government will retain a minimalist approach to intervening in tourism, aside from its role as a facilitator, and let the industry emerge and develop on its own. Sri Lanka’s natural beauty has been overshadowed by its war-torn history, but it boasts the world’s best beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and heritage sites. Furthermore, it has some of the planet’s most unique ecosystems.
Rajapaska said that the island has been blessed with beaches, exotic wildlife and waterfalls and that the nation has a hard-earned reputation for their hospitality.
Currently, India and the UK are the largest markets for tourism in Sri Lanka. The UK has some of the biggest arrival numbers and authorities say that most UK tourists tend to stay the longest on the island.
Sri Lanka Tourism ready for tourists
Sri Lanka Tourism is geared to provide quality service to the large number of tourists who are expected to arrive in the country during the next five years, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Nalaka Godahewa said.
He was addressing the media on the Viceroy special 25th anniversary celebration at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management yesterday. Atleast 654,000 tourists had arrived in Sri Lanka during year 2010, an increase of over 46 percent. The Government according to Chairman Godahewa expects a target of 2.5 million tourists by 2016.
Sri Lanka, a country which is rich in natural beauty and cultural landscape is ideal for promotion of tourism.
He said that the importance of introducing new products to raise the daily spending of tourists in addition to the natural beauty, was essential.
February 2 marks a special day for Sri Lanka Tourism when the Viceroy Luxury Steam Train celebrates its 25th anniversary with a run from Colombo fort to Rambukkana. The Government, he said recognizes the contribution of Viceroy Special to Sri Lanka Tourism with the Postal Authority issuing the longest stamp in the history of Sri Lanka along with four other commemorative stamps to mark this day.
The special luxury train has come along way making a tremendous contribution to Sri Lanka tourism with popular trips to Pinnawala, Kandy and west coast beach resorts. The steam-hauled train is passenger friendly, stopping on requests for guests to take photographs of scenic spots.
Viceroy Special is a 75-year-old train and also the only steam train still in operation in Sri Lanka.
The train has two air conditioned observation saloons, with 64 plush reclining seats and individual adjustment tables, Chairman Godahewa said.
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