'Beyond the Beaches' to help promote tourism

Anushka Nanayakkara and Ruwini Jayawardana

TRAVEL SHOW: This year's World Travel Mart (WTM), the biggest travel show in the UK calendar and the second largest in the world, is scheduled to be held in London from November 6 to 9. The theme of the mart, "Beyond the Beaches", is believed to attract well over 3,000 photographers. Forty-seven companies and around 100 Ministers of Tourism will take part.

The Sri Lankan Tourist Board (SLTB) made the announcement of the World Travel Mart at a press conference on Thursday.

Sri Lanka's recovery from the tsunami and news of the escalating violence in the North East has affected the British traveller. Therefore they have to be convinced more towards a positive approach. As over 60 percent of the business from the UK is still through Tour Operators, it is vital that Sri Lanka needs to focus on WTM to maximise exposure to the destination.

WTM is also the platform that most countries portray the unique features of their country, which is considered to be a major tourist attraction. The Sri Lanka Tourist Board had portrayed the stairway to "Yapahuwa", the fourth capital of Sri Lanka in the thirteenth century A. D. at WTM 2004.

The "Vatadageya", the circular relic house built in Sri Lanka's medieval capital, established as the first city of the land in the eleventh century A.D. was presented at WTM 2005. This year the board had decided to portray the "Makara Thorana" which is the West Doorway of the shrine of the Dalada Maligawa, Kandy. Together with this feature a dance troupe is set to perform.

"We believe that we should promote the destination in every possible way and not merely show ourselves at a travel mart which will not bring the required impact to the country," said Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourist Board Udaya Nanayakkara. He also added that WTM would bring the largest press office in the UK.

The Sri Lanka Tourist board will also be launching a number of promotional activities. This consists of promotional activities to attract travel agents.

Under this project, Sri Lanka Tourism has decided to increase its efforts to increase awareness of Sri Lanka and paint a positive picture of the country. Three top tour operators have been presented with an award annually as a sign of appreciation of their services to improve arrivals to Sri Lanka.

"Tokens of appreciation" will be presented to tour operators and the media who have contributed towards Sri Lankan Tourism.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board has initiated a process to prepare a three year Strategic Marketing plan and a one year Operational Plan with the assistance of all stakeholder. The underlined principle of this process is that marketing is a business philosophy.

Same as last year, this year too, Sri Lanka Tourism will be getting some University students studying tourism as a subject at the Surrey University to man the Sri Lankan stand at the WTM 2006.

Nanayakkara said prizes would be distributed on the opening day of the travel fair in the presence of the French Minister of Tourism, Lean Betrand.

Director of marketing of the SLTB M. B. Kiriella, Ms. M. Perera of the Ad\Marketing section and Additional Director General Dileep Mudadeniya were also present.

Facelift for Hotel Club Lanka

Shirajiv Sirimane

REFURBISHED: Hotel Club Lanka, Ahangama has been renovated, refurbished and launched with a new look, new identity and a new name, "Insight."

The hotel with 33 rooms which was damaged during tsunami has been fully refurbished with new facilities such as air conditioning to all rooms, hot water and new furniture. While the property itself and amenities are of good quality, the beautiful beach is one of its main attractions and the serenity and peace of the surroundings provide perfect tranquillity to soothe a restless mind and body. The large swimming pool too is another attraction.

Resident Manager, Insight, Chandima Lokuhetty said that they are now offering special packages for locals and it is becoming very popular. "We give them special privileges and the large restaurant is a major attraction," he said.

Activities in the hotel include a cycle trail that takes clients through the local village whose main means of living is farming and wood craft.

In addition a nature walk through the rice fields and climbing up through the low grown tea plantation rich with bird life too are being arranged.

As a part of the hotel's responsible tourism initiative they expect to run a series of anti-drug abuse campaigns. In addition, the clients will also have an opportunity to interact with the villagers through different sports activities such as cricket matches and volleyball matches, which the hotel will organize on behalf of the groups that stay in the hotel.

The hotel is a subsidiary of NKAR Travels and Tours owned by Nilmin Nanayakkra.

Bernard Tours at French Trade Fair

FAIR: Bernard Tours and Travels (Pvt) Ltd, a very senior company in Sri Lanka's travel industry, took an active part at 'Top Reza - 2006' a prestigious trade fair held in France recently.

This Trade Fair was attended by leading personalities in travel industries from around the world. The fair which was held for the 28th time in France, was attended by over 20,000 persons from around the world, who are connected to the world's travel industry.

Eleven other travel companies from Sri Lanka participated at the French Trade Fair. The Ceylon Tourist Board had arranged the participation of the travel agents from Sri Lanka. Managing Director, Bernard Tours, Anjalo Mendis said that the fair was a big success and that his company was successful in entering into contracts with a number of French Tour Operators to bring in tourists from France to Sri Lanka.

Hilton launches F&B website

LAUNCH: Hilton Colombo, launched its first food and beverage website on Thursday, in an attempt to facilitate its customers to obtain detailed information of their restaurants and entertainment venues and also make on-line bookings.

"The site www.diningathilton.com is user-friendly and enables the customers to browse through in detail the food promotion and activities available and keeps them abreast of what is going-on in the hotel," said Gigi de Silva, Marketing Communication Manager, Hilton.

This initiave taken by Hilton Colombo will help ease the trouble a customer has to face in booking while providing him the opportunity to obtain a wide idea of what the hotel has on offer. The site was officially open at the hotel by the General Manager.