Category: Tourism

Sept 20, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) has appointed a fresh set of officers, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said. SLAITO is made up of destination management companies who service tourists in Sri Lanka. Foreign travel companies and charter operators who are principals of the local members are […]

Sept 15, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is confident of achieving its target of attracting 600,000 tourists this year following the relaxation of travel advisories in key markets, tourist board officials say. “We are confident that this year, looking at the progress we have, we’ll be able to achieve 600,000 tourists for this year,” S. […]

Sept 08, 2007 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan eco-lodge built in the shape of an elephant has been nominated for a top slot at the World Travel Awards, its operators said. KumbukRiver, in Okkampitiya in the Buttala area is about 250 kilometres away from the capital Colombo and are among the eight lodges nominated for […]

Sept 06, 2007 (LBO) – Maldives has asked Sri Lankan firms operating resorts in the atoll nation to sell a part of their stake through a stock market flotation, a senior minister said. Two of Sri Lanka’s top leisure groups — Aitken Spence & Co. Ltd and John Keells Holdings Ltd — have significant presence […]

Sept 4, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has teamed up with the neighbouring island paradise of the Maldives to woo tourists from China, Russia and the Middle East, officials said Tuesday. Sri Lanka’s 26-billion-dollar economy earned nearly 400 million dollars from tourism last year, the fourth largest foreign currency earner behind tea, clothing and remittances […]

August 30, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hilton Hotel is less affected than resort hotels by the drop in tourist numbers since it has multiple revenue streams, officials said. The hotel, which is owned by a Colombo listed company with state-ownership, is operated by the Hilton Hotels Corporation chain that has over 2,800 hotels in […]

NEW DELHI, Aug 18, 2007 (AFP) – India aims to double its tourist numbers to 10 million in 2010 when it hosts the Commonwealth Games, a report said Saturday. Indian Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said the numbers visiting the country had grown steadily with 3.92 million tourists in 2005 and 4.43 million in 2006, according […]

August 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka wants to use sports events like a forthcoming marathon to entice more tourists to the island and rebuild an image tarnished by war and allegations of human rights abuses, officials said. The number of tourists to Sri Lanka fell 20 percent to 44,142 in July and arrivals in […]

August 15, 2007 (LBO) – Foreign visitors to Sri Lanka have fallen 20 percent in July with arrivals in the first seven months falling 24 percent, the country’s tourist promotion office said. Sri Lanka has been slapped by travel advisories while a worsening conflict and reports of human rights violations and killings of aid workers […]

August 12, 2007 (LBO) – The Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka has elected as its president Hiran Cooray of Jetwing Hotels, a tour operator with a chain of hotels that’s also promoting eco-tourism in a big way. Four vice presidents were also elected at the association’s annual general meeting representing different segments of the […]

Aug 06, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s leisure sector should focus more on promoting people development and community involvement to make the tourism industry sustainable, officials say. India, Macau and Thailand’s Six Senses Spa won awards in other categories of marketing, heritage and environment. Top coastal resorts, mostly empty because of the ethnic war, have […]

July 15, 2007 (AFP) – Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka plunged 30 percent in June compared to a year ago as fighting escalated in the country’s bitter ethnic war, the tourism board said Sunday. The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamil and the conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives […]