Travel

Breeta’s Garden invests Rs. 2 m

A beautiful swimming pool, built at the centre of a lush tea estate on which Breeta’s Garden Hotel stands is fascinating for both foreign and local tourists.The swimming pool built at a cost of over Rs. 2 million, is said to be a unique feature as it is one of the very few swimming pools constructed in the hill country.

Guests enjoy a panoramic view of the Gorgeons mountains and waterfalls surrounding Breeta’s garden, while having a dip in the pool.

A group of tourists on their maiden visit to Sri Lanka was impressed by the swimming pool built at Breeta’s garden.

A tourist said that the swimming pool surrounding misty mountains at Breeta’s garden is one of the most lovely sights he had seen anywhere in the world.

The Managing Director young Ajith Bandara who had worked over 15 years in Germany, says that his dream to set up a swimming pool has become a reality.

Our motive is to add more features to our industry to attract the tourists, he said.

Holiday Inn gears for season

The joy of the Christmas season was launched at Holiday-Inn Colombo with the opening of the “Cookie Hut.”

As the Christmas draws near, a taste of X’mas from around the world is on air and the hotel Christmas Day with live music would be on until dawn. “Holiday Inn Colombo is bringing on everything bright and beautiful to make this Christmas the most memorable one,” a hotel release said. A Xmas get-together will also be held and for both occasions kids below 12 will be charged half rate.

End the year with an unmatched style would be celebrated at the venue known for the excellence of its ambience and cuisine. Special menus await this occasion with a gala buffet and live music and diners are entitled for free dancing at the lobby with Kids below 12 will be charged half rate again.

Indian PM concerned on tourism post-Mumbai attacks

In the face of adverse travel advisories by a number of countries post-Mumbai terror attack, the Centre has decided to call a three-day meeting of heads of all the foreign missions to promote India as safe and popular destination.

“Post-Mumbai attack, many countries reacted adversely. We are holding a meeting of all the heads of mission in Delhi for three days from December 22 onwards,” Minister of state for External Affairs Anand Sharma told reporters here.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be addressing the envoys. “The meeting will help create an atmosphere that India is safe and a popular destination,” the minister said.

Sharma said the union government has already initiated dialogue with Indian Missions abroad and their missions in India promoting it as a safe destination. Replying to a question, he conceded that during Mumbai attack, there were serious administrative and security lapses for which the Prime Minsiter has already apologized.

“Government is looking into them so that there will be no such repetition and also can fix the accountability,” the minister said.

He said a strong intelligence system is now in place and coastal security has been strengthened.

PTI

Concerted efforts to boost tourism

Sri Lanka’s concerted efforts to promote the island in the international tourism market will receive fresh impetus as the government fully exploits the spotlight the country received at the World Travel Awards which saw Sri Lanka bagging a coveted travel Oscar courtesy KumbukRiver, a one-of-a-kind eco resort in Buttala.

The plum award at the travel world’s premier international event puts Sri Lanka on the global stage of tourism and will help boost Sri Lanka Tourism’s aggressive promotional drive.

Maverick brand strategist Dinesh Watawana, at the centre of Sri Lanka’s forays at the World Travel Awards has been recognized for his efforts with the government poised to draw on his uncanny ability to create successful brands.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Faizer Musthapa who is spearheading the efforts to capitalize on this rare international opportunity along with Bernard Goonetilleke, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, was instrumental in making sure that Sri Lanka was, indeed, present at the gala international event in Turks and Caicos Islands, about 600 miles from the US East Coast.

Turks and Caicos Islands boats of the world’s top beach and has emerged as a luxury tourism destination and this year’s glittering awards night attracted the best-known names in travel and tourism to these Islands.

“This is a great honour for Sri Lanka and comes at quite a crucial time when Sri Lanka tourism needed it the most”, said Musthapa.

We must draw upon this international accolade and draw international tourists to the country and it’s wonderful to see Sri Lanka setting the benchmarks in the sphere of green tourism which is seen as the future of world tourism, he added.

The bronze statue which constitutes the travel Oscar is a 7kg masterpiece crafted by the Queen’s personal jeweler. “Nothing can compare with winning one of the World Travel Awards”, said Graham E. Cooke, president and founder. “It’s quite simply the highest accolade any location or travel company can ever hope to achieve and says more about them than any brochure can communicate, any picture can mirror, any personal testimonial can express.

Sri Lanka’s KumbukRiver nestled on a resplendent nature enclave on the banks of Kumbukkan Oya on the edge of Yala in Okkampitiya, Buttala captured the imagination of the world with a stunning elephant-like edifice which serves as the resort’s primary villa. An innovative brand-building initiative by the ad agency The 7th Frontier,

KumbukRiver is a role-model in brand marketing and tourism. KumbukRiver has previously been honoured by Times-Online to be among the world’s 50 best green places, as well as, with a shortlisting by Responsible Tourism Awards.