Sri Lanka Tourism to tap vast Indian Market

Hiran H. SENEWIRATNE

Sri Lanka Tourism will initiate an aggressive promotional campaign to attract Indian tourists into Sri Lanka. More than nine million tourists expected to travel out of India, Vice President, Tourist Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Amal Goonetilleke said.

Deputy Chairman City Hotels Association Amal Goonetilake addressing the conference. Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel. Management Chairman Bernard Goonetilake and Deputy Chairman of John Keells Holdings (JKH) Ajith Gunawardena were also present.  Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

“In view of the current global financial crisis, India and China have had an adverse impact the way the European countries are affected. Therefore, it is an opportunity to promote Indian tourists specially family and corporate into Sri Lanka,” Goonetilleke told at a media conference yesterday. She said that more than nine million Indian travellers are expected to travel outside India and they expect to attract at least nine per cent of them into Sri Lanka as a thrust as it is the biggest tourist market for Sri Lanka.

“We are going to adopt tailor-made strategies for each and every Indian State to promote and attract Indian tourists to Sri Lanka and capture at least seven per cent of them in the next year,” Goonetilleke said.

They are looking at tailor-made promotional campaigns into Indian States through road shows and other activities in the country. Further, they will also meet top ranking politicians in Indian States including opposition members as a part of the programme during the next year, she said.

Deputy Chairman of John Keells Holdings (JKH) Ajith Gunawardena said that the Indian market is important for Sri Lanka due to the close proximity, access and the sea factor and the most important thing is the expanding middle class in India.

“India has not had a major impact from the global financial crisis, which will help to promote the lucrative Indian market in the shortterm perspective as a thrust sector. Therefore Sri Lankan Airlines and Sri Lanka Tourism should work in hand in glove to grab this opportunity,” Gunawardena said.

General Manager Sri Lankan Airlines MICE Division Amith Sumanapala said 77 flights fly to India and with these aggressive tourist promotions they could increase the seat factor in the flights available.

Sumanapala said Sri Lankan Airline being a 100 per cent Government entity has not tied up with any airline. With the new promotion they are expecting to tie up with other airlines and tour operators to achieve the goal.