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Sunday, 20 November 2011
Lanka’s leopard poster wins international award
A poster showing a pair of Sri Lanka leopards has been named Best Poster for the South Asia Region in an international competition. The poster was created and submitted by Sri Lanka Tourism for the Vettor Giusti Tourism Poster Competition, which is held once in two years to mark the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly sessions.
The winning posters will be on display in the entrance hall of the UNWTO building in Madrid, Spain. Sri Lanka Tourism has launched a campaign under the banner, “Refreshingly Sri Lanka”, leveraging on the country’s natural wealth and beauty. The content of the campaign falls into eight categories, based on the eight letters that spell “Sri Lanka.” As a tourism destination, the country can boast of a wide range of wildlife – from
Sri Lanka has the potential to become the “Wildlife Wonder of Asia” as long as the country’s tourism potential is properly tapped, say conservationists. Feedback from visitors suggest that this is not happening.
Answering a recent survey questionnaire, tourists said they were “satisfied” with the wildlife experience in game reserves in general, but not with the “overall experience.” They cited setbacks such as a lack of knowledgeable guides, congestion in parks, and negative behaviour by jeep drivers who
Tourists mentioned popular national parks in other countries where visitor numbers and conduct within parks are monitored.
In India, many of the tiger reserves have a daily quota for vehicles permitted inside, and strict rules on the number of vehicles allowed per route. In game reserves in South Africa, only a limited number of safari jeeps are allowed for each wildlife sighting, and only one vehicle at a time is permitted at an observation point. In Ruwanda, a maximum eight visitors at a time are allowed to observe the rare Mountain
The fact that all these tours are always fully booked attests to visitor satisfaction with the arrangements. The “sustainable tourism” lobby in Sri Lanka would like to see Sri Lanka pitched as a high-end conservation tourism destination, while avoiding the pitfalls of mass tourism. This would be economically beneficial and protective of the wildlife within the wildlife parks, they say. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is working closely with conservationists to promote regulated, well-conducted wildlife tourism.
Vipula Wanigasekera, acting director-general of Sri Lanka Tourism, told the Sunday Times that research was being done to determine visitor capacity for Yala National Park, and that an action plan was being drawn up.
As a first step, Sri Lanka Tourism and other animal welfare groups are training Yala trackers in game reserve best practices, as observed in other tourism-dedicated countries. Activists say the Department of Wildlife Conservation needs to boost its resources and beef up its numbers in order to manage visitors. More trained guides are urgently needed, they say.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Tourist arrivals hit new record high in 2011
Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals in the first 10 months of the year has surpassed 2010's record as visitors to the island nation has continued to rise every month on a year-on-year basis since a 25-year civil war ended in May 2009.
Tourist arrivals in the first ten months of 2011 jumped 34.2 percent to 667,569 from a year earlier, higher than Sri Lanka's record annual tourist arrivals of 654,476 reached last year.
The arrivals rose 32.8 percent in October from a year earlier to 69,563.
The government is targeting annual revenue of $2.75 billion by 2016 from 2.5 million expected visitors attracted by Sri Lanka's beaches, hills and religious and historic sites, while aiming for $3 billion in foreign direct investment.
Sri Lanka has forecast 20 percent growth in visitor arrivals this year to more than 780,000 people. Last year, the industry grew at 46 percent. The island's tourism industry drew $1.2 billion for investment in the first half of 2011.
Tourism revenue, which jumped 64.8 percent in 2010 to a record $575.9 million, has risen 48.1 percent in the first nine months of this year from a year earlier to $580.1 million, central bank data shows. (Reuters)
Tourist arrivals in the first ten months of 2011 jumped 34.2 percent to 667,569 from a year earlier, higher than Sri Lanka's record annual tourist arrivals of 654,476 reached last year.
The arrivals rose 32.8 percent in October from a year earlier to 69,563.
The government is targeting annual revenue of $2.75 billion by 2016 from 2.5 million expected visitors attracted by Sri Lanka's beaches, hills and religious and historic sites, while aiming for $3 billion in foreign direct investment.
Sri Lanka has forecast 20 percent growth in visitor arrivals this year to more than 780,000 people. Last year, the industry grew at 46 percent. The island's tourism industry drew $1.2 billion for investment in the first half of 2011.
Tourism revenue, which jumped 64.8 percent in 2010 to a record $575.9 million, has risen 48.1 percent in the first nine months of this year from a year earlier to $580.1 million, central bank data shows. (Reuters)
Sri Lankan Airlines spearheads tourism growth
Sri Lankan Airlines is leading the destination’s future growth in tourism as it moves on from its conflict-struck past. The carrier, which has operated from London for 30 years, has started a phase of growth and modernisation in a five year plan, which includes a US$5 million investment.
Kapila Chandrasena, director and CEO at Sri Lankan Airlines told Travel Daily the carrier has added four aircraft this year and launched new services to Moscow, with the re-introduction of its Zurich services on 23 December. He said the airline had taken a leadership in the tourism initiative and is ‘trailblazing’ the way for more tourists.
“We see huge opportunity for Sri Lanka in Europe. With the dawn of peace, the economy is buoyant, it is showing growth and we this as an opportunity to show what the country has to offer,” he explained. “New areas and experiences are being opened up and the government has made tourism a key initiative”.
Meanwhile, the airline’s competition from Middle East carriers has prompted Sri Lankan Airlines to update its onboard product, from seats through to meals. This includes a new business class seat which goes to a flatbed, modern in-flight entertainment and cabin crew training. The carrier will also offer an a la carte menu in its business class so passengers can choose when they eat.
“The challenge is not to get complacent,” said Chandrasena. “We are looking at a more integrated push so as the national carrier we are showing Sri Lanka as a destination and not just our airline. The worst is over and the environment is now very different from how it was five years ago”.
To ease traveller concerns over domestic transportation and currently undeveloped roads in Sri Lanka, the airline has also launched air taxi services so tourists can reach their holiday easier.
Meanwhile, as Sri Lanka gears up to host the England cricket team’s tour in March, Chandrasena said sports tourism will continue to be a key tourism driver for the country. Its government is currently bidding to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Kapila Chandrasena, director and CEO at Sri Lankan Airlines told Travel Daily the carrier has added four aircraft this year and launched new services to Moscow, with the re-introduction of its Zurich services on 23 December. He said the airline had taken a leadership in the tourism initiative and is ‘trailblazing’ the way for more tourists. “We see huge opportunity for Sri Lanka in Europe. With the dawn of peace, the economy is buoyant, it is showing growth and we this as an opportunity to show what the country has to offer,” he explained. “New areas and experiences are being opened up and the government has made tourism a key initiative”.
Meanwhile, the airline’s competition from Middle East carriers has prompted Sri Lankan Airlines to update its onboard product, from seats through to meals. This includes a new business class seat which goes to a flatbed, modern in-flight entertainment and cabin crew training. The carrier will also offer an a la carte menu in its business class so passengers can choose when they eat.
“The challenge is not to get complacent,” said Chandrasena. “We are looking at a more integrated push so as the national carrier we are showing Sri Lanka as a destination and not just our airline. The worst is over and the environment is now very different from how it was five years ago”.
To ease traveller concerns over domestic transportation and currently undeveloped roads in Sri Lanka, the airline has also launched air taxi services so tourists can reach their holiday easier.
Meanwhile, as Sri Lanka gears up to host the England cricket team’s tour in March, Chandrasena said sports tourism will continue to be a key tourism driver for the country. Its government is currently bidding to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Sri Lanka and Argentina tipped as the hottest ‘up and coming’ holiday destinations
Five countries known as ‘the SLIMMA nations’ are the next big emerging tourism destinations to look out for, travel experts say.
Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina have been identified for their growth potential and as tourist hotspots to rival the BRIC nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China – according to The World Travel Market 2011 Industry Report.
The report highlighted Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and investment in infrastructure as the country re-emerges after years of civil war, while Indonesia was credited for its diversity and growing population with high levels of disposable income.
Malaysia, which is seen as an Asian destination with a more Westernised feel than nearby countries, was singled out in the report for its aggressive marketing campaigns around the world, while Mexico’s investment in hotels and infrastructure and its low taxes were also highlighted.
Argentina was tipped as an ‘up and coming’ value-for-money holiday destination, which has seen strong economic growth.
In last year’s report, the BRICS nations were named one of the biggest growth opportunities, with China and Russia seen as the most important tourism markets.
www.terminalu.com
Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina have been identified for their growth potential and as tourist hotspots to rival the BRIC nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China – according to The World Travel Market 2011 Industry Report.
The report highlighted Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and investment in infrastructure as the country re-emerges after years of civil war, while Indonesia was credited for its diversity and growing population with high levels of disposable income.Malaysia, which is seen as an Asian destination with a more Westernised feel than nearby countries, was singled out in the report for its aggressive marketing campaigns around the world, while Mexico’s investment in hotels and infrastructure and its low taxes were also highlighted.
Argentina was tipped as an ‘up and coming’ value-for-money holiday destination, which has seen strong economic growth.
In last year’s report, the BRICS nations were named one of the biggest growth opportunities, with China and Russia seen as the most important tourism markets.
www.terminalu.com
Monday, 7 November 2011
WTM to boost ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’
With an eye on reaching 800,000 tourists arrivals to the country by the end this year, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) is utilizing World Travel Mart (WTM), their annual overseas promotion in London, to further enhance SLT’s global communication campaign ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’.
With the launch of ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’ promotional campaign, Sri Lanka tourism aims to achieve atarget number of 800,000 tourists to the country with the potential to earn between US$900 million to $1 billion by end of 2011 with the goal of recording 2.5 million tourists to the country by 2016.
WTM which kicked off yesterday at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London is a 4-day mega market for the travel and hospitality industry, attracting more than 5500 exhibitors from over 200 countries, and creating unparalleled opportunities for buyers and sellers to identify new markets and learn about the latest trends and developments.
Fifty one private sector companies including 29 Destination Management Companies and 22 hotel sector participants are registered with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Bureau to participate of this year’s WTM.
According to Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Managing Director Rumy Jauffer, Sri Lanka will continue to promote in UK and Europe despite the recession.
WTM 2011 will showcase Sri Lanka as ‘Miracle of Asia’ and focus the country as a destination that offers unrivaled variety with 100 waterfalls, 17 national parks, 7 World Heritage sites and over 2,000 years of recorded history.
www.sundaytimes.lk
With the launch of ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’ promotional campaign, Sri Lanka tourism aims to achieve a
WTM which kicked off yesterday at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London is a 4-day mega market for the travel and hospitality industry, attracting more than 5500 exhibitors from over 200 countries, and creating unparalleled opportunities for buyers and sellers to identify new markets and learn about the latest trends and developments. Fifty one private sector companies including 29 Destination Management Companies and 22 hotel sector participants are registered with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Bureau to participate of this year’s WTM.
According to Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Managing Director Rumy Jauffer, Sri Lanka will continue to promote in UK and Europe despite the recession.
WTM 2011 will showcase Sri Lanka as ‘Miracle of Asia’ and focus the country as a destination that offers unrivaled variety with 100 waterfalls, 17 national parks, 7 World Heritage sites and over 2,000 years of recorded history.
www.sundaytimes.lk
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