Travel

New BOI projects focus on tourism sector :

Houseboats for Nuwara-Eliya Lake

The Board of Investment promotional strategy will focus mainly on five areas during the next five years, which include dairies, tourism and leisure, education, IT/BPO and urban infrastructure development.

Since the tourism sector has the potential of becoming a major contributor in the economic development of the country, the Government aims at building up this industry so that it may offer a world standard product.

Current trends indicate that there has been a consistent increase in tourist arrivals in the island since the end of the conflict and this trend has led to very optimistic forecasts on the future of tourism in Sri Lanka. The industry could become a US$ 2 billion industry by 2016 from the current level of US$ 400. For that objective to be achieved Sri Lanka needs to attract a total of 2.5 million arrivals from the current level of 500,000.

Significantly, Sri Lanka has received positive reviews in major international tourism publications. National Geographic, for example ranked Sri Lanka as number two in its list of 20 Top Destinations.

The magazine's website described Sri Lanka as the 'resplendent isle' and underscored the natural charms of the island as "Indeed splendid." National Geographic website further stated that Sri Lanka has "some of the most exotic and exclusive locations around the world."

The BOI's strategy is to bring in investments to develop the current tourism infrastructure by improving the existing hotel capacity or expanding its capacity.

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka therefore granted investment approval to Hotel Services (Ceylon) Limited for an expansion project of Ceylon Continental Hotel and SAJ House Boat Builders and Operators Limited to provide houseboat operations in Nuwara Eliya. Chairman/Director General Jayamapathi Bandaranayake signed the agreement on behalf of the BOI and presented the BOI Certificates of Registration to the investors.

Hotel Services (Ceylon) PLC signed the agreement with the BOI to carry out the refurbishment project under the BOI.

The project is an initial investment of US $ 1 million that will be increased to US $ 6 million.

The strengths of the Ceylon Continental include its excellent location in the heart of Colombo's business district and a scenic view on the Indian Ocean. It is primarily a five star business hotel and was the first modern hotel property in Sri Lanka.

The Ceylon Continental is a well equipped hotel with shopping complexes, restaurants, conference rooms, business centre, a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, and host of other recreational facilities to provide the guests making it the ideal base for both business and leisure travellers.

Another novel project under the BOI was SAJ House Boat Builders & Operators who signed an agreement to provide houseboat services in Nuwara Eliya. The project is an initial investment of Rs 55 million that will be increased to Rs 100 million.

"The tourism market is looking at Sri Lanka as the most promising tourism destination in Asia. To utilize the full potential of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, it is necessary to identify, develop and promote new and innovative tourism products" SAJ House Boat Builders and Operators Director Jaison Panikulangara said. As a result House Boat Builders and Operators, a pioneering enterprise in India will be introducing houseboat operations, which is a successful tourism product in the state of Kerala, India.

Houseboat operations would be a successful tourist attraction in the inland water bodies including rivers, lakes and lagoons of Sri Lanka. The houseboats, which the company will introduce, are 100 feet in length, with a width of around 20 feet and the middle has a height of 16 feet.

The boats are made of wood with inboard engines. The modern type houseboats have all the comforts of a 4-5 star Hotel that include well-furnished bedrooms, comfortable living rooms, dining area and an upper deck providing seating facilities for 100.

The project is an environmentally friendly one where waste is collected in the boat and not released in the Nuwara Eliya Lake. The boats will be produced in India, but assembled in Sri Lanka.

A 24-room resort in Nuwara Eliya that will provide all the facilities needed by tourists, will support the houseboats.

Saj House Boat Builders and Operators will introduce houseboat services in Nuwara Eliya.

GOH to undergo major facelift

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

The tourism industry growth momentum will continue and the industry stakeholders have a major role to play to sustain and develop the industry further.

The constant upgrade of facilities and catering to emerging demands in the industry is an essential component in this regard, Grand Oriental Hotel Chairman Rohan Jayasinghe told Daily News Business.

The country's hospitality industry needs to re-position itself to promote as a preferred tourist destination where it could capitalize on the current peaceful environment.

A well-thought image building process will be a positive factor in attracting increased number of tourists to Sri Lanka, he said.

Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) is one of the oldest hotels in the country and will undergo a major facelift.

The refurbishment process will spread over three years to bring back the hotel to its past glory. It possesses the uniqueness of constantly changing scenic view that is a bonus for the guests.

The hotel will be geared to cater to local as well as foreigners where greater accessibility is available due to removal of security barriers, he said.

It will be a challenge to increase the patronage and we plan to build the clientele gradually. The hotel will be transformed in to a happening hotel and a family centred place to relax and enjoy in a tranquillised atmosphere. More facilities will be added to bring back the hotel to its old status, Jayasinghe said.

The hotel has a lot of character and there is a need to position it. The hotel will promote family lunches on weekends where the parents can relax with their children.

The banquet facility offered by the hotel is a speciality service providing a total solution to the end-users. The hotel will tie-up with leading jewellers to supply its clients at a concessionary rates. A promotional campaign will be launched shortly with credit card issuing banks to provide this facility. The hotel will conduct Philippine food festival next month to popular Philippine food among their guests. GOH will be a Sri Lanka hotel having a restaurant serving Sri Lankan food. The popular Harbour room restaurant will host Sri Lankan nights on Fridays and Sri Lankan breakfast on Sundays.

The hotel records 80 percent occupancy at present though it is off-season. There is a marked increase in Indian tourists arrivals.

We have a great deal to achieve. With enhanced facilities and availability of parking, the hotel is poised to attract more tourists. The well-trained staff works as a team to take the hotel to higher elevator by providing courteous and efficient service," Jayasinghe said.

GOH is a prime and prestigious hotel located in a priceless property.

Bentota river and banks get CEA protection

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has declared certain areas in Bentota as Environmental Protection Areas (EPA) under sections 24 C and 24 D of the National Environmental Act.

This is done recognizing the need for protection/conservation and integrated management of such areas. Central Environmental Authority Chairman Charitha Herath told Daily News Business that an area covering 60 m from the either side of the existing bank of the Bentota river inclusive of the water body and all islands falling within it upto five kilometres upward along the Bentota river from the Bentota railway bridge has been identified and will be declared as an EPA.

Herath said Sri Lanka is endowed with a vast diversity of both natural and cultural assets within a small land area which comprises many unique features, unique ecosystems, scenic places and ecologically significant habitats.

This river ecosystem is a valuable ecosystem due to its environmental, social and economic significance.

This river ecosystem provides high biodiversity including mangroves, endemic and nationally threatened faunal species, breading grounds for aquatic fauna, area with scenic beauty and high tourist attractions, functions as a flood retention area and economically important due to tourist related activities and fisheries industry.

But this river ecosystem is continuously under threat due to various uncontrolled and unplanned development activities such as water pollution, erosion of river bank clearing of mangrove vegetation, encroachment and illegal land filling activities and disposal of solid waste.