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Travel
Tuk Tuks and trade fairs are tourism's new KPIs
The second edition of the Tuk Tuk rally concluded with so many
colourful three wheelers brightening the streets of Colombo.
Second year into the event the rally, which covers a vast part of the
island awarded its proceeds towards five new tourist friendly tuk tuks.
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Tourists
who participated in the campaign in Colombo. Pictures by
Sumanachandra Ariyawansa |
Tuk tuks or commonly known as three wheelers have been identified as
an important and interesting common mode of transport for tourists
around Sri Lanka. Against this backdrop, the current Sri Lanka Tourism
Promotion Bureau acting Managing Director Malraj Kiriella spearheaded
the new service "Tourist Friendly Tuk Tuk" last year.
This scheme introduced metered taxies with accepted tourist standards
for the benefit of visiting foreign tourists to Sri Lanka. In the span
of a year fifty three wheelers were launched.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is currently planning on
"Visit Sri Lanka 2011 program and activities with the industry under the
guidance of the Economic Development Ministry.
As part of the plan, the SLTPB will be looking into new marketing, PR
and promotional methods to attract tourists into the country.
Emirates brings West Africa closer with launch of new Dakar route
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Delegates representing the inaugural flight to Dakar. (from
left to right): CEO Dubai Export Development Corporation
Saed Al Awadi, Chief Administrative Office, Dept of Economic
Affairs, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce Amgd Awad Alkarim
Idriss, Manager - Commercial Business Development for
Africa, Emirates Airline Mohammed Riza, Director General of
Air Transport of Senegal Cheikh Tidiane Senghor, Senior Vice
President of Commercial Operations for Africa & the
Americas, Emirates Airline Nigel Page, Ambassador and
Director of African Affairs Dept, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Essa Abdulla Albasha Alnoaimi, U.A.E.; Ambassador
and Director General of International Cooperation of the
Government of Senegal; Cheikh Ibrahima Doing, Ambassador of
Senegal in Saudi Arabia; Mohammadou Doudou, Ambassador of
Senegal in the U.A.E. Abdourahmanne Diop and Moustapha
Yacine Gueye.
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Emirates has strengthened its links to West Africa with the launch of
a new direct service to Dakar.
Emirates flight EK 797 serves the airline's 105th destination,
creating the only non-stop, scheduled passenger link between Dubai and
Senegal.
The new route will cut current journey times to Dakar by around the
equivalent of an eight hour working day, creating an easy, fast and
convenient service for business and leisure travellers.
Commercial Operations Senior Vice President Nigel Page said this
marks a new chapter in air travel between the Middle East and West
Africa.
No more passengers will travelling to and from Senegal face long
detours to Europe or other parts of Africa to reach their final
destination.
"Instead, they can enjoy the convenience of a non-stop air link with
Dubai, seamless connections to key centres in the Middle East, the
Indian Sub-continent, Asia and the Far East through our state-of-the-art
Terminal 3, a very competitive baggage allowance and the award-winning
in-flight service for which Emirates is renowned."
SriLankan Airlines' role in country's future reaffirmed
The Sri Lankan Government reaffirmed the important role that
SriLankan Airlines will play in the nation's future, as the national
carrier celebrated its 31st anniversary.
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MP Namal Rajapaksa speaking at the ceremony. |
MP Namal Rajapaksa speaking at the airline's anniversary celebration
in Katunayake on September 3, said: "SriLankan Airlines has faced
numerous challenges during its 31-year history, and must now step up and
play its part in the Government's vision to transform Sri Lanka into a
hub for tourism and aviation."
"With the scourge of terrorism eradicated forever, the Government has
now invested a considerable sum to bring the entire ownership of
SriLankan Airlines back to Sri Lanka, and clear the way for the airline
to expand rapidly according to the detailed plan that has been drawn up.
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Director Manilal Fernando, Director Dr Chris Nonis, Chairman
Nishantha Wickremasinghe, MP Namal Rajapaksa, Ports and
Aviation Deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera at the event. |
The staff of our National Carrier have made many sacrifices since we
took over the management of the airline, and can now look forward to a
prosperous future," Rajapaksa told the airline's employees.
Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera said: "Most of
the challenges that this airline has faced are behind us now.
But the Government has pledged to protect SriLankan Airlines in the
future, and to strengthen our national carrier in every way possible so
that it may fulfil the role that is expected of it."
SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe said: "The
Government and the President have given a clear signal of what is
expected of the national carrier. "SriLankan Airlines is ready to
deliver on these expectations," he said.
Rajapaksa and Tissera also visited the new 24-roomed Serenediva
Transit Hotel at the Bandaranaike International Airport that is now
being managed by the airline's subsidiary, SriLankan Catering; and also
its new Laundry Service in Katunayake that became operational two weeks
ago.
They also witnessed an emergency evacuation drill conducted by the
airline's cabin crew. |
