Category: Tourism

Sept 15 (LBO) – Arrivals to Sri Lanka from some European tourist markets saw another month of declines in August, but tour operators say possible peace talks this year could change that by winter. European travellers have been cautiously holding off on visiting the troubled island in the past few months, with top markets like […]

Sept 06 (LBO) – Diversified Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings is in early talks to buy into the Confifi Hotel group, a top official said. As part of our business strategy we look at various opportunities when they arise.In that context we have looked at this possibility of buying into the Confifi Group as […]

Sept 05 (LBO) – Serendib Hotels said Tuesday it would go in for a private placement to sell a 19.90 percent stake in the company to Minor International Public Company Limited, a large Thai resort operator. The company, which owns a chain of three hotels Hotel Serendib, Club Hotel Dolphin and Sigiriya Hotel, plans to […]

August 29, 2006 (LBO) – Aitken Spence Hotels Holdings together with an Indian partner plans to raise up to ten million dollars in India, to fund its hotel expansion into Kerala. The company has tied up a 50:50 joint venture deal with Floatels India Limited, to buy up a 15 acre plot of land on […]

August 22, 2006 (LBO) – Four global conferences to be hosted by Sri Lanka later this year have been cancelled on security fears, though the island is confident it can woo at least half a million tourists by December. The events, including a textile conference, were to host at least a thousand people, Prathap Ramanujam, […]

August 15 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has seen some cancellations from Europe for this year’s peak winter season following an outbreak in local violence, top industry officials said. Some cancellation of bookings have been reported for this November-December season, though others are withholding reservations and adopting a wait-and-see, Prathap Ramanujam, Secretary to the […]

August 8, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka greeted fewer visitors for the second straight month in July, as holidaymakers shied away amidst heavy fighting between government and Tamil Tiger rebels. The Indian Ocean Island welcomed 55,354 travellers 2.5 percent lower over the corresponding month last year and the low numbers is also threatening the leisure […]

August 04, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s largest hotel operator, John Keells Holdings Friday said they have picked up their fifth Maldivian resort for 12.5 million dollars. Some of the best diving sites in the Maldives are found in the vicinity of Ellaidhoo such as Fish Head, Maya Thila, Halaveli Wreck and Fesdhoo Wreck. Maldivian […]

July 26, 2006 (LBO) – Aitken Spence Hotels re-branded its Maldivian properties under a new Adaaran brand, with six of its resort products coming under the new umbrella. The hotels will be branded in four tiers – Adaaran Select, Adaaran Club, Adaaran Prestige and Adaaran Ayurveda Village the company said Wednesday. The group also recently […]

July 24 (LBO) – International Finance Corp is to pilot an online accommodation booking portal in Sri Lanka, so small and medium hotels can access global markets. The project to set up two online accommodation booking portals is driven by the South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) an arm of the World Bank’s IFC. Plans […]

July 14, 2006 (LBO) – Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka slipped slightly in June as arrivals from some key markets in Europe, including the United Kingdom, turned negative. Arrivals dropped 3.6 percent in June to just over 44,000 tourists, Sri Lanka’s Tourist Board said, with the industry still in off-season and also battling political upheaval. […]

June 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hemas Holdings Ltd may partner with Thailand’s largest quoted resort and fast food operator Minor International Public Company Ltd., to develop hotels here. Minor International also manages properties in the Middle East and runs hotels in Thailand under international brands names like Anantara and J W Marriot. Both […]