KumbukRiver nominated for Oscars of the travel world
Sri Lanka's KumbukRiver has been nominated for the Leading Eco-Lodge
in the World at the World Travel Awards, the Oscars of the travel and
tourism world, the first time Sri Lanka figures among the 'world's
leading' classifications at the showpiece annual event which also
includes awards by continent as well.
Two other Sri Lankan entities are recognized this year by the WTA -
Jetwing's Ayurveda Pavilion has received two nominations, one under
'Asia's leading Resorts' and the other in the category of 'Asia's
leading Spa Resorts' while Sri Lankan Airlines is named amongst Asia's
best Airlines, completing an unexpectedly bountiful year for Sri Lanka.
KumbukRiver has been voted among the world's eight leading eco-lodges
and will vie for the top slot when professionals from over 160,000
travel agents in over 200 countries vote for the first-ever Green Awards
category at the 14 year-old event hailed as the most coveted awards
scheme of the travel and tourism industry.
KumbukRiver's dramatic entry receives further significance as the
other resorts nominated are all large-scale and well-established
enterprises and only seven countries from the world are on the honours
list.
The nomination by the WTA puts the eco-lodge from far-flung Buttala
on the world tourism map, not for the first time, with KumbukRiver
securing two other international accolades.
KumbukRiver has currently been shortlisted for an award at the
Virgin-Responsible Tourism Awards while Times-Online voted it among the
world's 50 best green places to stay, last year, making KumbukRiver the
hottest Sri Lankan destination in the world of tourism.
KumbukRiver leads Sri Lanka's resurgence on the world tourism market.
The international accolades assume dramatic proportions considering the
entire concept for the unique eco-lodge was a wild idea mooted by the
maverick ad agency The 7th Frontier whose executives have had no
exposure to the tourism industry previously but catapulted Sri Lanka on
to the world stage with a model project that has already received raving
reviews around the world.
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