Jetwing Hotels supports Blueprint project

Mirissa in Southern Sri Lanka, has now established itself as the world’s top spot for watching the Blue Whale, the largest creature to have inhabited our planet.

During the season, Blue Whales could be seen virtually every day at a strike rate of over 95% just a few nautical miles from the shore, which is unprecedented when compared to sightings of these animals in other parts of the world.

Sperm Whales too may be seen occasionally in pods numbering to as much as 50, while on a good day, one may have the opportunity of viewing both Sperm Whales and Blue Whales in the same field of vision.

Whale watching in Mirissa has emerged as one of the biggest and most positive stories for Sri Lanka’s growing tourism industry in recent years, thanks to the efforts of Jetwing.

Jetwing Lighthouse, an icon of Galle, has been the home of whale watching for over four years and has played a pivotal role in researching, promoting and branding the product to the world since its inception in May 2008.

Now, Jetwing Hotels joins SriLankan Airlines and John Keells Group in a drive to boost conservation efforts of the whale, in a programme named Project BLUEprint along with Whale and Dolphin Conservation UK. Launched at this year's World Travel Mart, the Project seeks to develop a community-based responsible whale and dolphin watching industry off the coast of Sri Lanka and encourage responsible behaviour amongst local boat tour operators.

Once established, responsible whale watching would be rolled into two less-developed whale watching sites, Trincomalee in the north east and Kalpitiya in the north west, to safeguard the industry before there is any rapid increase of untrained vessel operators or a lack of community leadership which could manage the growing whale watching industry as a result of an expected influx of tourists wanting to view the whales.

“As Jetwing had long been known for championing the safety and continued existence of whales, we are proud to help out in Project BLUEprint. It is an honour for us, and our expertise and knowledge would certainly be an asset to the Project,” commented Ishanth Gunewardene, Head of Sales & Marketing for Jetwing Hotels.

Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 39 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectations at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand.