Emirates Airlines to invest on a major hotel project

Shirajiv SIRIMANE in UAE, Dubai

INVESTMENT: The Emirates Airlines is to invest on a mega hotel project in Sri Lanka in the near future.

In an interview with ‘Daily News’ at the Arabian Travel Market the President of Emirates Airline Timothy C. Clark said that they were having this idea for several years. Sri Lanka is a very exciting destination.” Clark said that Emirate airlines have diverted to the leisure sector as well and are having hotels in many countries.

He said that they would be investing over US $ 250 million for a hotel project in Mauritius which would have the world’s largest swimming pool.

He also said that they are eagerly awaiting to renew the management contract of the SriLankan Airlines which expires next year.

He also disclosed that the airline has decided to resume operations to Sri Lanka and they would operate their flights from today (4) and there would be no reduction of their flights to Colombo.

Emirates Divisional senior Vice President Destination and Leisure, Hans Haensel said that Sri Lanka too is a part of their holiday programme.

“The country is prominently featured in our magazine since it’s a popular destination,” he said. He also said that the people now prefer to go to smaller boutique type hotels and Sri Lanka has many such hotels to be offered,” he said.

He also said that Nuwara Eliya and Kandy along with the beaches in Sri Lanka are very popular.