First Choice Holidays brings more tourists

COMMENCEMENT: First Choice Airways of UK, a subsidiary of the leading international leisure travel company First Choice Holidays Plc. has commenced weekly charter flights to Sri Lanka recently bringing in 258 leisure travellers to Sri Lanka on a weekly basis.

Hemtours, one of the leading ground handling agents in Sri Lanka is the exclusive local agent for both First Choice Airways and First Choice Holidays.

First Choice Holidays together with Hemtours and Sri Lanka Tourism - UK should be congratulated for this Endeavour since this commencement of the weekly charter comes at a time where Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is faced with many challenges.

Tourism is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner and offers employment and earning opportunities to a significant number of direct and indirect employees of this vital sector.

With an operating a fleet of more than 32 aircrafts, the new First Choice leisure aircraft will bring in over 13,000 leisure travellers per year.

The flight operates to/from London Gatwick weekly on a non-stop service. Customers from First Choice will benefit from the great selection of tours and excursions that Hemtours offer, together with a range of beach stay hotels in the major resorts of the island.

Sector Head of Hemas Leisure Abbas Esufally, said “UK is viewed as a high potential and rapidly growing market for Sri Lanka with a potential of more than 100,000 arrivals each year.

The commencement of this flight operation will help the occupancy of all partner hotels and have the trickle down effect for the communities in those areas.

This is seen as a big boost for the tourism industry at a time of great need and we hope that other Tour Operators both from UK and other destinations will be encouraged to follow suit”.