Business Travel

Global impact on tourism discussed extensively

Hiran H. Senewiratne

All the countries should think globally while considering global community stakeholders’ benefit, the Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism, Renton De Alwis said.

This year has been named as the ‘Year of Consolidation’ and dealing with many promotional activities through the Provincial Governments, De Alwis said at the Pacific Area Travel Writers’ Association (PATWA) conference to discuss the global impact on world tourism sector.

The event was held at ICC conference hall in ITB Berlin. De Alwis was awarded the life- time award for the service rendered to the tourism sector.

De Alwis said that global warming is one of the issues which the world is now facing.

This year there was only common area booths arranged in a more relaxed atmosphere with lounge areas for meetings and discussions with various attractions of the island depicted on large blow-ups suspending from high above the ceiling.

The usual facilities for meetings and one-to-ones and Internet access for the exhibitors to download their e-mails direct at the pavilion etc. are provided for exhibitors as well.

Lanka to woo Aussie tourists

Member Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Nihal who visited Melbourne Victoria recently met the Minister for Finance, Work Cover and the Transport Accident Commission and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Tim Holding.

The Meeting was arranged by Bill Shannon (Shannon’s Way) Social Marketing Communications, with the assistance of Max Foster a Leading Sri Lankan Businessman in Victoria. Perera who is also the Chairman of Sparklink Travels said that the Minister was very pleased about the role played by Sri Lankans to project the image of Sri Lanka.

In addition to meeting the Minister, meetings were also held with the F.F.A a Former Minister, Steve Crabb and Sports Legend Ron Barassi who visited Sri Lanka last year with Max Foster and met President, Mahinda Rakjapaksa. The cordial discussions held with them paved the way to focus Sri Lanka as a Holiday and Business Destination for Australians to visit Sri Lanka.

Perera plans to continue with the good friendship established, and hopes to enlist the support of the Ministry of Tourism, and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, to project a positive image of Sri Lanka in Australia.

Z&R Leisure to launch catamaran race

For the first time a catamaran boat race is being organised by Z&R Leisure Management Services (LMS) in a bid to promote Mount Lavinia as a tourist destination. The event will be held on April 10 commencing at 9 a.m. onwards. Chairman LMS, and partner Sea Breeze Hotel Mount Lavinia, Ranjith Balasuriya said that international media has been invited to cover this event. “There are many hotels in Mount Lavinia area and most of them are being marketed at a lower rate since the destination do not have higher value” he said.

Balasuriya a former Director of the Hotels Corporation said that area has tremendous water sport potential, which is under-utilised and this event will make way for more events.

Coca Cola Beverages Sri Lanka will be sponsoring this event and Head of key accounts and modern trade, N. Sugunendran has also promised to open a Coca Cola Kisok at the Sea Breeze food outlet on the Mount Lavinia beach.

Tourism recovers from earlier slump

Tourism has staged a turn around from November, with a robust arrival gain of 20% for the month. The drop-in arrivals peaked in May this year to 40% after the LTTE attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport and the subsequent curfew imposed on night flights.

Since September this year, a recovery was seen with a strong turn into a positive last month. Arrivals for November was 45,102 compared with 37, 591 for the same month last year. With the current boost Sri Lanka tourism got with the Barmy Army of nearly 7,000 fans currently enjoying the cricket test matches.

The month of December is expected to perform better. With the third and the final test matches in Galle attracting much attention, nearly 10,000 cricket fans are expected to be in Sri Lanka.

“Looking at the forward bookings, we are confident that we will end up with a good winter season performance this time. With events like the Galle Literary Festival, The Pearl Fishers opera, lifestyle shows in April and other exciting events planned for next year, we should expect the recovery to be sustainable,” said, Renton de Alwis, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

“We also note the achievements in the Middle East market where an overall 30% gain has been achieved between January and November, with an increase from 9,535 to 12, 327,” he said.

“This, we attribute to the strong promotion undertaken led by our Deputy Minister of Tourism,” he added.

A notable increase is also seen in the Eastern European Markets of over 65%, with the 2006 arrival figure of 12,867 increasing to 21,301 between January and November 2007. During the month of November, markets like UK, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Austria have shown strong signs of recovery.

“With the focused thrust we are placing on our markets, we are sure to see even better times,” said, Dileep Mudadeniya, Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Taj Airport Garden introduces new Chef

The Taj Airport Garden Hotel introduced their new Executive Chef Sunil Edirsinghe (OTAB - Canada, GDIP - UK, MBA - USA).

Chef Edirisinghe is a professional with experience in three continents and well-versed in culinary food production and having specialised in Canada and Sri Lanka. His training began at the Claremont Hotel School, adding a Master of Business Administration - Catering Management at the European Continental University. Well-versed in HACCP and having participated in train the Trainer Programme conducted by the Co-operate Delta Hotels in Ontario, Canada.

While in Germany, Chef Sunil Mastered the fine art of authentic Bavarian cuisine and following this he completed a food and beverage management techniques course at the Faculty of Hospitality Studies in the United Kingdom.

He has worked as an Executive Chef at the Island Hideaway in Maldives, the Al Mutlaq Hotel in Riyadh, the Royal Empire Hotel also in Dubai and has had extensive working experience as a Sous Chef at the City Centre Hotel in Dubai, which is owned by Sofitel and both the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre and the Movenpick Restaurant in Ontario, Canada. He is also serving as an Executive Committee Member of the Chefs’ Guild of Sri Lanka.

Trans Asia Hopper Night is back again

By popular demand the Hopper Night which has become a hit at the Trans Asia in recent months is back again on the March 14 for those who have missed out on the previous Hopper Nights, in the beautiful setting of the poolside, where torch lit gardens, tables lit with candles, Sri Lankan musicians, the likes of popular Sri Lankan spicy curries, sambols and chutneys, Pittu, kottu rottis, and loads of crispy hoppers and tempting sweetmeats served by the staff from many action stations well placed in the landscaped garden.