Travel

Nkar Travels to market MSC cruises:

Sri Lankans go for cruise holidays

Charumini DE SILVA

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has appointed Nkar Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd., as their Preferred Sales Agent (PSA) in Sri Lanka to look after the sales marketing and promotions of MSC cruises in Sri Lanka.

"We found that in Sri Lanka the interest for cruise holidays is fast growing and over 1,000 Sri Lankan passengers choose a cruise for their holidays annually. Most passengers who choose a cruise for their holidays are between 30 and 60.

There are different cruise packages and one could go on a luxury cruise for a minimum $ 800", said Head of Outbound Travel, Nkar Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd., Menaka de Alwis.

"We offer a wide range of seasonal routes in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa. Many passengers choose European cruises and they like to travel mainly to Italy, Greece, Spain and Greek Islands", she said.

"We focus on personal selling up markets, diplomatic operations and the identified corporate bodies. Nkar Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd., together with MSC cruises will soon appoint another 10 agents in Sri Lanka who would be trained on all MSC products and services which helps you to buy any one of the MSC products from your preferred travel agents", she said.

IFC to help modernise Maldives Airport

IFC will help modernize the Maldives Airport to sustain tourism-based economy IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will work with the government of Maldives to modernize the Male airport to improve efficiencies, provide better services to passengers, and help sustain the country's tourism-based economy amid the global slowdown.

IFC's advice has been sought to help the Maldives Airport Company Ltd attract private investors, structure the privatized entity, and develop a tariff framework and an appropriate investment plan. An open, transparent and competitive process will help investors bring international managerial capabilities and best practices and help the airport operate at full potential, and safeguard the interests of shareholders, customers, and employees.

The Maldives copes with severe regional disparities across its 200 inhabited islands or atolls. The government is actively pursuing reforms to address these imbalances by enhancing fiscal resources and evolving its role as an enabler of development. By selling a significant stake in the Maldives Airport Company, the Government is undertaking the first such initiative to infuse private capital to improve governance and profitability of its state-owned enterprises. This will help the government free up scarce resources to pursue poverty-alleviation policies and measures.

"Private investors with relevant experience in other parts of the world will bring immense efficiencies to our services at the Male airport," said Chairman of Maldives' privatization committee Mahmood Razee. "By partnering with IFC, we will ensure transparency and competitiveness in the bidding process."

'Serendib Treasures' from SriLankan

SriLankan Airlines passengers are snapping up special offers over the airline's Pre-Order Service from its On-Board Duty Free collection 'Serendib Treasures'.

Manager Inflight Service Support, Jehan Karunaratne said, "Passengers who use the Pre-Order Service have added rewards in the form of some exciting special offers which we recently introduced. We are continuously adding to the special offers. So ensure you check out our website before you travel."

"Passengers on the outward leg of their journey can even fill in a form while on board specifying the items they'd like to buy on their return flight. Just hand it to a member of the cabin staff and the items will be reserved for you when you next come on board," said Karunaratne. The recently unveiled all new Serendib Treasures Collection for Summer 2009 has a range of new additions among its 180 products. It features everything from the world's most popular brands such as Estee Lauder, Emporio Armani, DKNY, YSL, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Polo, Giorgio Armani, and Revlon. And there's something for everyone since the collection has a wide range of prices.

The collection features the best known international brands in perfumes, cosmetics, watches, cameras, clocks, sunglasses, wallets, children's toys, and many other categories. Among the most popular items are the range of spirits that include top of the range products from Johnny Walker and Chivas Regal. The earlier Winter 2008 Collection had proven to be immensely popular, with a significant increase in average sales per passenger, and the Summer Collection promises to be even better.