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| Tuesday, 21 September 2004 |
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SITA Sri Lanka and Kuoni Travels to double tourist arrivals in 2004 SITA Sri Lanka, a joint venture between UK's largest promoter of tourists to Sri Lanka and Kunoi Travels India and Jetwing travels is hoping to double the numbers of tourist arrivals this year.
"We hope to handle 12,000 tourists in 2005 and 18,000 the following year, and we are looking at alliances in the cruise and high playing incentive segments, said CEO South Asia and Middle East Ranjith Malkani. He said that the Sri Lankan market had added value to its product with the introduction of air taxis and domestic flights. "This is a step taken in the right direction", he said. With the peace initiative the North East has opened and this has expanded and widened the local market. Kuoni Travel India is responsible for developing the inbound business in all countries in South Asia and the Middle East. Having established the SITA brand as the undoubted leader in India, the Company is now looking to strengthen the SITA brand in Sri Lanka. 'We are also looking at major investments in IT and infrastructure', he said. Sri Lanka is not new to SITA. The brand was first introduced to the island two decades ago and had a low-key existence under the previous owners of the Company. It is only after Kuoni's take-over, that a clear and aggressive focus is being put on its operations in Sri Lanka. As a first step, Kuoni increased its share holding in SITA Sri Lanka to the maximum permissible 76%. It has moved to a new location at the World Trade centre. "We are very bullish about our enhanced presence in Sri Lanka. The destination on a strong recovery path. We as SITA are committed to working very closely with the industry, SriLankan Airlines and the Sri Lankan Tourist Board to develop business segments like cruises conferences and incentives which we believe have tremendous potential", said Himmat Anand, Chief Operating Officer, SITA india. India considered the world's second fastest growing economy has a significant volume of outbound leisure travel, visits related to sport events and business travel. Outbound travel to overseas holiday destinations is being offered by Indian Companies to employees and sales/dealer teams as motivational incentives. "With sound branding, an international network a motivated and experienced and a destination, which is on the rise, there is little doubt that SITA Lanka will soon be among the leading incoming operating companies in Sri Lanka,' he said. |
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