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| Friday, 10 September 2004 |
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Tourist arrivals to reach 1 million by 2010 by Anjana Gamage
The Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) will launch several projects along with other tourism promotion industries to cater to one million tourists expected by 2010, SLTB Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara said. The SLTB was upgraded to the A category by the Public Enterprises Division of the Treasury recently. " There was a rapid increase in tourist arrivals. During the first six months of this year there were 216,144 arrivals and the trend indicates that we will bypass the last year's arrivals of 500,000. Our target for the end of this decade is one million tourists", the Chairman said. The country is in a need of 25,000 hotel rooms, three major resorts development projects are now under way to fulfill this demand within the next 10 years, Nanayakkara said. The Cabinet has approved the Dedduwa lake resort project for which land acquisition has already been started. A consultancy firm has been employed to prepare a masterplan for this area. The Board has identified 25,000 acres of land for the next resort to be set up at Kalpitiya in Puttalam.
The cabinet approval will be obtained shortly for this project. "In the case of Passekudah resort, developers are interested in the construction of hotel projects. Last month SLTB allocated a 10 acre of land to a Lankan investor while another block of land will be allocated to a Maldivian investor. They are planning to construct a 150 roomed hotel with all modern facilities. Another three hoteliers at Passekudah will also be requested to start their projects or these blocks of land will be given to new developers", he said. Work to upgrade Bentota National Holiday resort to an up market resort by world standards has already been started. Meanwhile the Board will increase the intake of students to the Colombo Hotel School and its branches from next year to promote the industry. ****************** Lodge at Habarana attracts more tourists The lodge at Habarana in the centre of the Cultural Triangle has recently undergone refurbishment. This hotel, part of the John Keells group, is now distinguished by contemporary comforts which blend with its classical architecture. The modernisation has not disturbed the ambience, but made the property even more desirable as a fascinating place to stay. Hotel offers 24 superior and 86 standard rooms and 40 deluxe rooms, and these have befitted from extensive refurbishment. The Lodge has a new Ayurveda herbal treatment centre with oil massages and herbal steam baths for guests who are simply tired from too much of sightseeing. ****************** Browns Beach opens doors to local tourists Browns Beach Hotel in Negombo is on an aggressive marketing drive to attract more local tourists to Negombo which has become an attractive tourist destination due to its beautiful beaches. We will provide a good service to Lankan guests and to the corporate sector offering exclusive packages for them to come and spend their leisure in Negombo, said DGM of Browns Beach Feliex Rodrigo. We have introduced theme nights on week days such as Lobster Nite, Chinese Nite, Italian and Prawn nite, Sri Lankan nite and BBQ nite. The hotel has also launched beach games and we will add some more beach games in future", Rodrigo said. We want to promote Negombo as a conference hub in Sri Lanka and our hotel is equipped with the-state-of-the-art technology to cater to this requirement of the corporate sector", he said. (SP) ****************** Tree House Dinner at Club Palm Garden Confifi Group, introduces an awe-inspiring and rather novel dining concept, a Tree House Dinner at the Club Palm Garden in Beruwela. This purpose built two tree house seats and boasts of furniture with a rustic design. It is an unique setting for you to wine and dine that special someone, whilst savouring a delectable 7 course dinner, sipping an exotic cocktail and listening to the enchanting melodies played by your personal violinist. Start your day with a "Happy - go - lucky village hike", a new tour designed by the Hotel to let guests observe and experience the way of life of villagers in and around the town of Beruwela. Departing from the hotel at 5.30 a.m., guests are taken to visit the Beruwela Fisheries Harbour, Kettchimalai mosque, the historic Kandevihare Temple in Aluthgama, and paddy-fields and rubber plantations around Matugama town. Breakfast is served at the "Brief Gardens" of the renowned architect, Geoffrey Bawa (a tropical garden with a variety of flora and fauna) before proceeding on a trek to a village nearby and a final stop at the Beruwela market. On return to the Club Plam Garden, guests are taken around the Hotel's very own Pahana Landa Eco Village, where they can savour a typical Sri Lankan Ambula lunch. |
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