Monthly Newsletter
General
Aitken Spence Travels have moved
This is to inform you that Aitken Spence Travels have moved to our new office which is situated next to our old office. Our new address and contact details are as follows.
4th Floor,
Aitken Spence Towers 2,
315, Vauxhall Street,
Colombo - 00200
Sri Lanka
The general telephone number 2308308 remains unchanged. In addition there is another new general line which is 2499500.
Galle Literary Festival 2009 count down begins
Enthused on being voted “Number 1” by Harpers Bazaar in 2007, among several literary festivals of the world, the Galle Literary Festival is now established as the leading celebration of English Literature. This annual event draws the attention of the book loving world to the coastal town of Galle, with many thousands, trekking many miles, to be present and be part of the activities.
A literary event which draws Sri Lankan writers and others from across the globe to Galle it is a celebration of culture - celebrating writing, photography, music, ecology, architecture and food. Germaine Greer, Michelle de Kretser, Moses Isegawa, Pico Iyer and Romesh Gunesekera are some of the writers who have confirmed participation for the forthcoming event which will be on from January 28th to 1st February 2009.
For full details visit: http://www.galleliteraryfestival.com
SNAV Annual Congress in Sri Lanka
SNAV Provence (Syndicate National des Agences de Voyage) held its annual congress from 13th to 16th October in Sri Lanka with the participation of 100 travel agents on the theme ‘Sustainable Tourism’ and the discussions were based on the role of tourism distribution and the means of integrating it with mainstream operations. The group included George Colson the associations National President and his wife. The choice of destination Sri Lanka to hold the congress themed ‘Sustainable Tourism’ was pertinent as Sri Lanka Tourism has sustainability and community involvement as the major thrust for its operations.
SINO Sri Lankan ties on a new footing
To strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Sri Lanka and China a Sister City scheme has been established. Hambantota in the south of Sri Lanka is linked to Guangzhou, Nuwara Eliya in the Central province to Yongzhou ( Hunan Province) and Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte in Western province to Hangzhou City (Zhejiang).
With the establishment of Sister City ties better resource mobilization for economic and infrastructural development, greater market access and increased people to people contact between the cities that are linked between Sri Lanka and China, is expected. It will also entail cooperation in economy, trade, science, technology and tourism.
Negombo among the ten best romantic escapes in the world
A listing of the 10 Best Romantic Escapes by Simon Calder, places Sri Lanka at ninth, after Tangier Morocco in eighth place, and before Istanbul Turkey in tenth place.
“The Indian Ocean has long held the “romance franchise” for many British couples, offering alluring islands from the Maldives via Seychelles to Mauritius. But Sri Lanka offers much more than Sun, Sea and Seduction. Negombo just a breeze from Colombo airport, has the requisite wide beach and picturesque fisher folk, but it also has a South Asian town to escape to, and get romantically lost in.” - September 21st Sunday Travel Supplement Independent UK.
Sri Lanka Gujarat Friendship strengthened
A delegation led by Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda was in Gujarat from October 6th to 9th, on the invitation of the State Government, headed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The delegation included High Commissioner to India Romesh Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman, Renton de Alwis, Vice President, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Amal Goonetilleke.
The Minister held discussions with the Chief Minister and with the Minister of Tourism Gujarat, Secretary Ministry of Tourism and other officials of the state tourism administration with a focus on promoting bi-lateral tourism, taking cognisance of Gujarat’s dynamic economic and social development on the one hand, and Sri Lanka’s strategic location and experience in the tourism sector, on the other.
The cordial relations between the two leaders is expected to result in a tangible strengthening of economic and cultural ties between the two countries, also paving the way for an enhancement of travel, tourism, business and investment between the destinations.
Sri Lanka’s Investment potential showcased at WTIF
Mr. Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Kalpitiya Tourism Development Project and the Sri Lanka Institute for Hotel and Tourism Management and Mr. Srilal Miththapala, President of the Sri Lanka Tourist Hotels Association (THASL) and CEO of Serendib Leisure Hotels, spoke at The World Tourism Investment Forum in Bussan, Korea representing Sri Lanka. The Forum drew over 400 participants from 46 countries and was held from 6th to 9th October, 08.
Mr. Goonetilleke addressed the plenary session of the Forum presenting SriLanka’s investment potential in tourism, while Mr. Miththapala addressed the gathering on eco tourism and will highlight the success of Hotel Sigiriya as a case study for environmental and energy conservation and its impact on the bottom line. Hotel Sigiriya won 1st place at the International Restaurants & Hotels Awards (IRHA) -Green Award, showcasing the hotels efforts at the highest level for environmental conservation.
For more details visit: http://www.worldtourismsummit.com/
China Bay Airport to open shortly
Sri Lanka Tourism has spend Rs. 3 million to refurbish the China Bay airport in Trincomalee. Sri Lanka Tourism has repainted the interior. The airport is to be reopened next month after a major refurbishment. The airport would be initially operated by the Air Force.
Development of the Eastern Province
A program to develop the Eastern Province was launched recently with the appointment of the Eastern Province Tourism Development Committee with the provinces Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan as a member of the committee. The Eastern Province which boasts of Sri Lanka’s most attractive and breathtaking coastline has been out of the tourist route in the last two decades.
Mlesna opens ‘Tea Castle’ in Talawakelle
Euro Scan Exports (Pvt.) Ltd., the marketers of the world renowned brand of tea – Mlesna – ceremoniously opened the ‘Mlesna Tea Castle” the biggest of its kind in Patana , Talawakelle recently with much pomp and fanfare amidst a distinguished gathering of invitees.
Sri Lanka Tourism to boost image through International Public Relations Network
Sri Lanka Tourism has appointed several destination representation/public relations companies in key markets including the UK, Germany, France, Middle East and India as part of its efforts to boost the island’s image and generate more tourists to the country. As part of its international PR campaign the appointed agencies will provide international lobbying, hosting of press conferences, fam tours for tour operators/travel agents, road shows in key cities in addition to the traditional daily PR activities. It will also provide crisis communication when required. Another element of the PR campaign is celebrity marketing and brand ambassadorship programmes, which will attract a broader target audience and give better exposure for Sri Lanka. The Minister of Tourism commenced the ‘Tourism Ambassadors project to support the destination following which several high caliber appointments have already been made.
French Travel Agents find Lanka safe for travel
The successful conclusion of the Annual Congress of SNAV Provence held for a week in in Sri Lanka with 100 French travel agents earned Sri Lanka much commendation, admiration, and tributes as a paradise island. The SNAV members were flown in by Sri Lankan Airlines.
UNWTO Tourism Ministers’ Summit
Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda and Chairman Tourism Promotions Bureau Renton de Alwis, made presentations at the UNWTO Tourism Ministers’ Summit on the 11th November, and at Responsible Tourism Day on 12th November, at the World Travel Market in London, where they shared their thoughts and vision for working towards being a carbon clean Sri Lanka by 2018.
The Minister emphasized the need to involve all stakeholders to understand and respond to the need to mitigate causes for climate change. Sri Lanka received further commendation when Hotel Sigiriya and the Turtle Conservation Project of Sri Lanka, were recognized for honourable mention at the Responsible Tourism Awards 2008.
|
