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| Friday, 9 April 2004 |
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Business travel Lanka to participate in Arabian Travel Mart by Irangika Range Middle East's major travel trade fair - Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) from May 4 to 7. Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB), SriLankan Airlines and members of Tourism Industry will participate, at this event. The aim of the exhibition is to give a boost to the Tourism Industry and make available products and services of the Middle East and Pan Arab Region to other countries. An official of the SLTB said ATM is the biggest and best travel show in Asia for Sri Lankan in the travel and tourism business where buyers and sellers from all over the world meet. "Ten Tourism Industry members including travel agents and hoteliers such as Jetwing Group, Ceylon Tours, Walkers Tours, Asian Adventures, Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Siddhalepa Ayurvedic Health Resort, Confifi Group, Serendib Leisure Management, Lankasports Reizen and Aitken Spence Travels will be representing Sri Lanka," she said. "Last time the floor area allocated to us was 24.5 sqm. This year we have obtained more than double this area. Sri Lankan services and products such as National/Regional Tourists Organisation, Consultancy Firms, Tour Operators, Hotels, Airlines, Car Rental Companies, Railways, Coach Operators, tourists' attractions and other travel related services would be displayed in the Sri Lankan stall. The special Ayurvedic head massage and tea service will also be there. Since 1994 ATM has been conducted under the government of Dubai's Department of Tourism, Commerce and Marketing with the full support of Emirates Airline. The DWTC has expanded recently and it would supply more facilities to the ATM. 50 sites identified : Walawwas as Tourist Inns The Sri Lanka Tourist Board's project of registering Walawwas (Residences of aristocrats) and thematic bungalows as Tourist Inns to meet the influx of tourists has been successful, a Director of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board told the "Daily News". He also said 50 such places have been registered already. Under this project, Walawwa-type homes more than 100 years old can be run as Tourist Inns. The Chairman, Tourist Board, Paddy Withana said the board had selected 50 bungalows and Walawwa which conform to Tourist Board standards, out of nearly 200 applications. Once registered with the Tourist Board, the investor or proprietor of the bungalow will be given a registration certificate and licence to carry on business as a Tourist Inn. An investor who wishes to run such Tourist Inn will be given a three year tax free licence from the board. The proprietor will also be given permission to import necessary equipment to upgrade the Inn. Twenty seven bed and breakfast units (BB) and 52 paying guest (PG) centres which are popular in Europe are now operating in tourist popular areas in the island. Tourist Board sources said that with facilities for tourists being limited, these bungalows and walawwas will be in big demand. Tourist arrivals into the country has reached 500,000 this year and the number is expected to increase next year. by Richmond Wijesekera, Bentota group correspondent The Tea Factory to conduct diverse attractions to woo tourists A tea factory in Kandapola transformed into a Hotel and named "The Tea Factory" will conduct diverse attractions to woo tourists visiting Nuwara Eliya during the new year season. Among the attractions will be a fruit fiesta in the heart of the city and a mobile unit for live cooking stations with BBQ grills and other food. Hotel Sources said that they are expecting a large crowd in Nuwara Eliya for the seasonal fun and rest. They want to promote the products available in the area such as tea, strawberry, rhubarb and peaches. We want to promote new concepts to attract local and foreign tourists to the hill capital. We also want to provide enhanced facilities for them and the chefs of Tea Factory would also be operating 'Tea Factory on wheels' to cater the food requirements in the city" they said. We have also new addition to our hotel "Mountain Spring Spa" managed by Sanctuary Spa in Colombo to be fully equipped to provide quality service to the visitors" they said. "The Tea Factory" is a unique hotel concept, where a tea factory built several decades ago during the British Raj has been converted into a plush hotel, retaining its traditional character. The Hotel is managed by Aitken Spence Hotels. The hotel has also built new restaurant in the form of an ancient rail carriage that has been restored. The interior provides a nostalgic journey into the past. (SP) |
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