Category: Tourism

Local hotel bookings are seeing a definite slow down, as war fears begin to inspire jitters in the more wary European travellers. ldblquote Hotel occupancies are currently at a healthy 60 percent. But though there have been no specific cancellations as such due to the war, we have seen a considerable slowing down over previous […]

A team of adventure tourism experts is in the country to turn the popular sea destination to a hot adventure stop. Adventure Centre Asia officials say that Sri Lanka certainly has all the factors necessary to be one of worlds best adventure tourist attractions.rn rnldblquote It only took us one or two days to realize […]

Ripping open the wild side of the paradise isle, Sri Lanka will stick its spokes into the international world of adventure sports with its first race set for July 2003. Adventure Centre Asia, a Nepalese based company is pitching its tent in Sri Lanka to open up the island for serious adventure sports enthusiasts.rn rnAdding […]

Meanwhile, the Asian Hotels management is working to tie down a new management for the hotel before the end of the year, with invitations for quotations already sent out. rn rnHotel officials are keen on attracting leading international chains to take over and build on the facilities offered at the city hotel. rn rnAsian Hotels […]

The days of Lanka Oberoi have ended with a payment of US$ 1.5 million by owning company, Asian Hotels to the international hotel chain.Asian Hotel told shareholders on Tuesday that its long-standing dispute with managing company Oberoi Hotels Private Limited would be settled ldblquote in consideration for the payment of US$ 1.5 million. dblquote rn […]

SriLankan Airlines launched their first MICE Travel brochure today, tapping into a niche market of lquote meetings, exhibitions and conference travellers. Driven by the belief that Sri Lanka can offer much more than the sun, surf and sand, hard driven efforts have been underway by the industry to tap into high-spending corporate tourists rn rnThe […]

Villa Ocean View, a member of the Ceyko Group, has completed a Rs. 100 mn refurbishment programme in time to ride the wave of resurgence in tourism.The Wadduwa hotel said it has quadrupled the capacity of its banquet hall from 150 to 600 guests, refurbished its 67-room superior wing, re-laid the deck of its swimming […]

Coming through a battering last year, all signs are that tourists are flocking back with arrivals shooting up a massive 86 percent in the third quarter 2002, over last year.The recovery is however on the back of a very weak base last year that saw arrivals crippled after September 11 and the attack on the […]

The future of the tourism industry hangs loose as travel associations squabble over as to that should represent the industry.Some in the trade have already made representations to the government challenging the status of the newly established Tourism and Travel association.rn rnThe association formed with government patronage was thought to comprise both the travel agents […]

A few months ago SriLankan Airlines launched its e-mail bookings facility for Sri Lanka where customers in any part of the world could request flight bookings through the internet at any time of the day or night for any flight on SriLankan Airlines out of Colombo, except to India. rn rnNow customers can even book […]

Government is putting together US$ 4 mn to promote Sri Lanka as a tourism destination.A fund of US$ 1 mn to develop professionalism in the tourism industry is also on the cards.rn rnThis was revealed at the launch of the Sri Lanka Association of Tourism and Travel an umbrella organization for the leisure sector.rn rnldblquote […]

The six-month study will draw up an eco-tourism policy document for the country and the outlines for five pilot eco-tourism projects in the Southern region, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Dr. P. Ramanujam said.rn rnSri Lanka sustains some of Asias richest biodiversity and has been identified as a hotspot for nature and eco-travel.rn rnIt […]