TRAVEL

Mandara to benefit from MRIA’s tourist boom

M F Jabir

The opening of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has turned a new chapter in many aspects of the country and one of the main beneficiary is the tourism industry.

Mandara Rosen in Kataragama

Mandara Resort at Mirissa

Tourism is bound to boom especially in the Deep South and especially in locations in close proximity to the new airport.

Mandara Resort at Mirissa and Mandara Rosen in Kataragama situated close to Mattala International Airport has drawn huge attention among tourists and is deemed to attract many gusts who would fly to MRIA because its ideal location close to Mattala which is a few hour drive from the new international airport.

Mandara Resort Mirissa is a luxury boutique hotel situated between the estuary of Pollathu Modara River and the Indian Ocean beaches of the Deep South in Mirissa which offers guests a range of services and amenities.

Tourists who arrive at the MRIA could take advantage of the hotel’s panoramic view of Mirissa Bay, Red Cliff Mountains and the Indian Ocean. In addition the hotel offers bicycle rental, laundry service/dry cleaning, executive floor, valet parking, tours, and can comfort, in guestrooms which offer coffee/tea maker, ironing facilities, daily newspaper, internet access - LAN, non smoking rooms.

In addition they could enjoy the hotel’s jacuzzi, water sports (non-motorized), private beach and spa. Mandara Resort Mirissa therefore would be excellent choice for tourists entering Sri Lanka from the brand new MRIA to explore Mirissa’s serenity.

Another hotel which is bound to benefit from the opening of the MRIA is the Mandara Rosen in Kataragama as it is located close to the new international airport.

Mandara Rosen is a ‘4 Star’ hotel situated in a tranquil flora at the foot of a range of hills, in the sacred town of Kataragama.

The unique feature of Mandara Rosen is one of the few Four Star hotels in the fast developing deep Southern region of Sri Lanka. Mandara Rosen thus enjoys the leading edge over the other competitors and can woo many tourists disembarking from the MRIA as they would get the opportunity to enjoy an abundance of wilderness and beautiful beaches. Among its facilities are a large swimming pool a gymnasium, table tennis, pool, badminton and indoor games and Jeep safari to search for leopards.

Mega Tourism Road Show in Saint Petersburg

The three week long “Mega Tourism Road Show in Russia and Ukraine” commenced its first phase on March in the historical city of Saint Petersburg, Russia. This mammoth task of organizing a three week long tourism campaign in three major cities of Russia and Ukraine would not have been a reality, if not for the persevering and untiring efforts of Udayanga Weeratunga, the Ambassador of Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation.

Lankan dancers in action

His vast experience and hard earned knowledge on the tourism industry were the main attributes, which opened the portals for a mega road show of this magnitude.

The road show was declared opened at the Mega Dybenko shopping mallby the Ambassador in the presence of representatives of the SLTPB, Head of the International Desk of the Saint Petersburg City Administration and Managing Director of Mega Dybenko.

Speaking to the audience the Ambassador stressed upon the need to promote tourism of Sri Lanka in Russia and CIS countries as the fifth largest tourist arrivals are from the said countries.

He also stated that the very reason to commence the “Mega Tourism Road Show” at this shopping mall is that, during the visit of Mahinda Rajapksa to Saint Petersburg in 2011, the President of Sri Lanka having visited the Mega Dybenko and been impressed, promised the management that Sri Lanka would hold a Tourism Promotional Campaign in 2012 or in the very near future, at this venue.

Saint Petersburg is a city visited by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka in June, 2011in connection with the participation at the 15th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

It is the second largest city of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, is often described as the most westernized city of Russia, as well as its cultural capital.

In 1914 the name was of the city was changed to Petrograd, in 1924 to Leningrad and in 1991 back to Saint Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg was founded by the TsarPeter the Great on May 27, 1703.

Saint Petersburg is also home to the Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world.