Category: Tourism

Surviving through two decades of fluctuating fortunes, tourism is now moving to giddier heights of the big spenders and a niche of expensive boutique hotels. With war fears somewhat allayed, analysts expect an annual 20 percent growth rate for tourism over the next five years if the ceasefire holds.rn rnIn the first year of the […]

Watching for a leopard is patient labour; Studying the elusive and protected wildcat is something else altogether. But prohibitive research costs has conservationists turning to guided tourism as a gold mine and a possible solution.Sri Lankas national parks like the one at Yala, are home to a distinct sub-species of leopard, Panthera pardus kotiya.rn rnldblquote […]

SriLankan Airlines is moving its website to a .aero internet domain from its present .lk internet address. .aero is a new Internet domain name (like .com, .net, .org) exclusively reserved for the aviation community, rn rnSriLankan will be among over 3000 names registered with the .aero suffix including, airlines, aviation industry news services, engineering and […]

The Deer Park Hotel will only be the first of a number of Banyan Tree Group getaways in Sri Lanka.Nihal Jinasena, Chairman of the Jinasena Group told LBO that the Banyan Tree officials had hinted their interest to develop more properties with the group in Sri Lanka.rn rnDeveloping a 1-kilometre beach stretch owned by Banyan […]

Meetings and conference travelers are thronging to Sri Lanka, overshooting expected targets to 18 percent of all tourist arrivals in 2003.ldblquote Already at mid year we are 60 percent over target and we expect that we can capture 18 percent of tourist arrivals this year. This is more than the 15 percent we projected for […]

Qatar Airways is eyeing the European tourist and up-end business and leisure travellers as it tries to play down its traditional focus on Sri Lankas Mid East labour market.ldblquote We want to increase our corporate traffic, widening our wings to fly to more European markets, targeting our corporate and leisure travellers dblquote , said new […]

Tapping into a niche market of Buddhist pilgrims, the Tourism Ministry is launching plans to package Vesak as an annual event in the industry calendar.In an organised promotion, travel and tour operators are being approached to design new packages for this clientele that will offer them discounted rates, special airfares and accommodation and tours.rn rnldblquote […]

Funding sources to replicate the success of Elephant Corridor in the midst of a tea plantation are now being finalised.Elephant Corridor officials are working out investment options with a select group of Sri Lankan investors who are interested in the project.rn rnDevelopers estimate the 24 suite Leopard Mountain project in the midst of the Bogawantalawa […]

A top nature conservation organisation says it is working closely with the private sector to bring the true benefits of eco-tourism to the conservation efforts in the country.The Field Ornithological Group of Sri Lanka (FOG), which is an affiliate of Birdlife International, says true eco-tourism is not just a bunch of tourists going on a […]

A strategy to diversify its business interests will see Asian Hotels Corporation developing its Galle Road front property into Creascat City endash a self sufficient accommodation, entertainment, recreation and lifestyle complex. The management is expected to invest an estimated Rs.100 million over the span of the project, said Asian Hotels Director Viran Perera.rn rnUp to […]

The immaculate splendour of an exotic luxury resort carefully woven around the tranquil and wild beauty of the Deer Park Hotel, is being transformed into a Banyan Tree Group managed retreat. A deal finalised earlier in March will see Jinasena Group handing over the management of its Giritale hotel property to the Banyan Tree Group […]

Hot on the trail of the eco tourism inclination, Bogawantalawa Plantations is promoting four infrastructure projects among local and overseas investors.Taking centre stage among the projects is the Leopard Mountain Hotel, a Rs.500 million facility proposed by the people behind the Elephant Corridor Hotel.rn rnMeanwhile, an abandoned tea factory is being assessed for structural adjustment […]