Arugambay Travels Hotels goes for three star facility

Arugambay Travels Hotels (Pvt) Ltd is building a three star hotel facility in Arugam Bay. The total investment of the 25 room hotel will be Rs.203 million. The project cost will be met by local and foreign investments.

The first stage is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. This is the first such facility to be built in the area with approval from the relevant Government institutions and the BOI.

Arugambay Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd. Managing Director A.M. Jaufer said that although plans to build the hotel were delayed due to the country's situation during the past few years the company will now proceed with the project.

He was speaking after the new office of Arugambay Travels and Tour (Pvt) Ltd. was opened yesterday by Tourism Promotion Minister Faiszer Musthapha in Colombo.

Minister Musthapha said there was immense potential in the North and the East to develop tourism. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has set a target to increase the number of tourist arrivals to 2.5 million by year 2016. The country needs around 35,000 hotel rooms to cater to incoming tourists. It is important to meet this target with all facilities. The hotel project launched by Arugambay Travels will contribute towards achieving this target. The Minister said that while all facilities will be provided to foreign tourists, local tourism will also be promoted.

The foreign partner of Arugambay Travels Mark John Scannel said that with the improved business conditions in Sri Lanka the country will become a major tourist destination in a few years.

We will do our utmost to promote tourism in the East, he said.