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.
Side view of the houseboat |
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.
Inside the houseboat |
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.
Rohan Jayasinghe |
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.
New Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL)
Committee for 2010/11. Committee Members: Shibani Thambiyah,
Anandaraj, Amaranath Mahawaduge, Denesh Silva, Deva Peter,
Himaj Jayasinghe, Ruan Samarasinghe, Deputy Secretary
General CCC Alikie Perera, Amal Goonetilleke Committee
Member, Vice President Small Hotels Siri Goonewardena, Vice
President City Hotels Shanthikumar, President THASL Anura
Lokuhetty, Vice President Resort Hotels Jayantissa
Kehelpannala, Vice President General Interest Asoka
Hettigoda and THASL Past President Hiran Cooray. |
|