Sri Lanka represented by 51 companies:

Stage set for Arabian Travel Market

The Arabian Travel Market is the third largest leisure sector exhibition in the world after ITB Berlin,WTM London. This year Sri Lanka is being represented by 51 companies which is an all time record.

With permanent peace and political stability Sri Lanka seeks many new investments in the travel sector and many new companies too are participating in this event.

Arabian Travel Market is the travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Tourism destinations from the Middle East and around the world showcase a diverse range of accommodation options, breathtaking tourism attractions and new airline routes.

Sri Lanka has a good air connectivity to the Middle-East.Sri Lankan Airlines, the island's national carrier, is operating frequent flights to the Middle East to support the government's moves to attract more tourists from the region.

Sri Lankan weekly operates up to 04 flights to Doha and about 03 flights to Bahrain, and Dammam. Sri Lankan airlines altogether have 37 weekly connections to nine cities in the Middle East. Abu Duabi 07, Dubai 07, Muscat 02, Dammam 03, Riyadh 02, Jeddah 2 , Kuwait 07, Doha 04, Bahrain 03 and Dammam 03 providing ease of transfer for the travellers.

In addition Emirates, Etiad, Mihin Lanka, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Oman Air, Qatar, Kuwait Airways, Royal Jordanian and Gulf Air also has frequent flights to Sri Lanka.

The city of Colombo is a hub for shopping and entertainment with many shopping complexes including clothing designer brands such as Odel, House of Fashions, Hameedia, Cotton Collection etc and for purchasing gem and jewellery, gift and souvenirs, Laksala, glassware porcelain and many more which attracts the gulf travellers.

Middle Eastern tourists have the facility of praying time and directions in majority of the hotels along with halaal certified food which is another advantage.

The participating companies:

Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Pvt) Ltd, Aitken Spence Travels Ltd, Akquasun Lanka/LUXE ASIA, AMANRESORTS - Amangalla and Amanwella Amaya Resorts and Spas, Asian Adventures Travel Management Company, Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo/Hotel Services (Ceylon) PLC, Ceylon Tea Trails, Cinammon Lakeside Colombo, Cinnamon and Chaaya Resorts, Citrus Leisure PLC, Colombo Fort Hotels/Club Palm Bay, Connaissance de Ceylan, Diethelm Travel Sri Lanka and Serendib Hotels and Resorts, Eco Team-Sri Lanka, Exotic Global Holidays (Private) Ltd, Explore Asia Holidays, Galadari Hotel, Galle Face Hotel, Gemini Tours and Travels (PVT)LTD, Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka, Hayleys Tours, Hilton Colombo Residense, Hilton Hotel Colombo, Island Leisure Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Jetwing Travels (PVT) LTD, Lanka Holidays, Lanka Sportreizen (LSR), Lanka Vacations (Pvt) Ltd, LOLC Leisure, MAC Travels (Pvt)Ltd, Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Mount Lavinia Hotel, NKAR Travels and Tours (pvt) Ltd, Palagama Beach, Premier Lanka Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Rosen Tours(PVT) LTD/Mandara Hotels (pvt) Ltd, Royal Holidays, Sansun Butique Hotels Ltd/Elephant Corridor, Serene Pavilions, Sunway Holidays, Tangerine Tours (PVT) Ltd, The Blue Water/Union Resorts Ltd, The Wallawwa, Tour East, Tourism Ceylon DMC (Pvt) Ltd, TREE OF LIFE (Pvt) Ltd, UGA Resort (Pvt) Ltd, United Holidays, Walkers Tours, World Travel Centre Colombo (Pvt) Ltd.