Month of the October has declared as a month of community based tourism under visit Sri Lanka programme in Sri Lanka tourism.

Oct 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Ministry of Economic Development together with Sri Lanka Tourism has organized an international forum on Community Based Sustainable Tourism to be held today.

I like to be an optimist. No matter what may happen around us, I would like to retain feelings of hope I have for all human-kind and on a more intimate level for you, for me, the newborn and the to-be-born. Yet, what has already happened around me, happening now and may happen in the ...

The month of the October was declared as a month of community based tourism under the ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ programme of Sri Lanka tourism. A series of activities have been planned to promote community based tourism throughout the month. Further, it has now been widely accepted that diverse

Winner of the Best Boutique Hotel award at the Sri Lanka Tourism Awards 2010 and a prestigious member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, has been awarded Winner of the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2011 for the – Country Winner for Luxury Beach Resort in Sri Lanka for the Consecutive

The Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday launched the trial version of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme which will come into force from 1 January 2012. The ETA will grant prior approval for visa via online for the foreign nationals who visit Sri Lanka and those who travel via Sri Lanka for short-term requirements. ...

The World Tourism Day was celebrated in grand style at a special ceremony held in Colombo yesterday with the participation of all stake holders related to travel and tourism industry. The main event took place at the tourism zone near Beira Lake, called “Road to Paradise” with the participation of Minister Basil Rajapaksa – the ...

by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion ...

The Hotel Sector has for the first time issued a commemorative stamp on behalf of World tourism Day.The launch of the commemorative stamp by Cinnamon Grand Hotel Group was held on the sidelines of World Tourism Day under the patronage of Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Hotel premises. Post Master General M.K.B. Dissanayake presented the ...

Industry expects modest growth but no boom expectationsby Cheranka Mendis The tourism industry is looking at a 10-15% increase during the coming winter season although there will be no sell-out as earlier expected, according to industry experts. The season, which usually amounts to the highest number of arrivals each year, was initially expected to bring ...

This year the Kalutara Hoteliers’ Association will celebrate World Tourism Day on a grand scale with the advice of Sri Lanka Tourism and the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka. The President and members will conduct career guidance programmes throughout the week and a Sri Lanka Food

By Cheranka Mendis Colombo yesterday came alive with colour and imagination as some 2,000 students from almost 110 schools took their paintbrushes and creativity to the Beira Lake premises. From flyovers and packed-up buildings to fast-paced bullets and jetliners, the paintings depict Colombo as a highly-developed city, offering all comforts. While the majority of the ...

‘Tourism Linking Cultures’ is the theme; celebrations include releasing stamps and promoting youth involvementSri Lanka Tourism is planning a range of celebrations for World Tourism Day, linking all public departments, the organisation said in a statement yesterday.   This year’s World Tourism Day will be celebrated under the theme of ‘Tourism – Linking Cultures’ set ....

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa met high level business delegations led by the French Ambassador and the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka respectively with a view to promoting investments from France and the United Kingdom. Addressing the business community that included some of the leading enterprises in the fields of insurance, garments, tourism and ...

World Tourism Day 2011 focuses on empowering youthThis year’s World Tourism Day will be celebrated under the theme of ‘Tourism – Linking Cultures’ set by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.  The main focus of this year’s theme is to foster awareness among the international community of the value of tourism and its cultural impact ...

the ground arrangements. The co-sponsors are Connaissance – Moscow, the Sri Lanka Tourism Pro...

Last week I received an invite for an ‘Inventors Day Celebration’ in one of the leading schools in the country and the master in charge shared a thought that I felt was a cutting edge idea. Apparently, every one of us is an inventor in some part of our daily life. The issue is that ...

By Cheranka Mendis Sri Lanka will celebrate this year’s World Tourism Day through art and culture, Deputy Economic Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said. Speaking at a press conference, Abeywardena stated that this year’s World Tourism Day activities would take place centred around the Beira Lake. “We have organised a one km long art wall to ...

By Cheranka Mendis Tapping into the high-end tourism market Russia would help boost tourism numbers in large volumes and drive the industry to surpass the expected arrivals of 750,000 by the end of the year to over 800,000. SriLankan Airlines yesterday made its first direct flight to Moscow, the financial and political centre of Russia. ...

The Travels and Holidays Network, a Toronto and UK based Travel Event Management team with the assistance of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, in Toronto is organising “Wonder Sri Lanka” Travel and Trade Show on 16th and 17th of October 2011 to promote Sri Lankan Tourism and Trade in North America in Toronto, Canada.

The number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka went up 29.6 % to 72,463 in the month of August 2011, compared to August 2010 which was only 55,898, according to the latest figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). .

Midst a gathering of the cream of the tourism industry, diplomats and media, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Strategy 2011 to 2016 was unveiled on Monday with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Deputy Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena officiating. Here are some highlights. Pix by Upul

Despite crises in most world markets, the Government yesterday remained upbeat on prospects for Sri Lanka’s exports which have grown by 35% so far to reach $ 5 billion giving optimism that end 2011 figure would top $ 10 billion. “On the back of 21% growth in exports in 2010, current year’s exports have grown ...

Sept 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka has launched a new five-year plan under the guidance of the Economic Development Minister to boost tourism in the country as the country is focusing on development two years after eradicating decades-long terrorism that stalled the progress .

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Strategy for 2011-2016 was launched under the patronage of Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development at King's Court, Cinnamon Lakeside on 06 September 2011.

Govt. officially launches development strategy 2011-2016 sticking to the same target of 2.5 m tourists by 2016 as announced way back in January 2010 via Mahinda Chinthanaya Extended Vision Spells out plans for 2011 and details Visit Sri Lanka 2011 initiatives after eight months have passed and in 5 year master plan Strategy document of ...

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa greet each other in traditional Sri Lankan style after the latter presented the 2011-2016 tourism development strategy to the former as  tourism industry leaders applaud. Among them from left

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is positive about the China Aviation Technology Import-E..

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is positive about the China Aviation Technology Import-Export Corporation's (CATIC) five star hotel project which is expected to be launch by the end of thi .....