IN 2010, the boost for Sri Lanka tourism was being named the top travel destination by the New York Times. As the dawn of 2012 emerges the plus point is being among the top six of National Geographic’s best global destinations. Upbeat on tourism, the Government is considering a target

Cabraal says that reserves were built to weather demanding situation, calls on the non-banking sector to seek funds from capital markets and wants it to target 70% of GDP by 2016 By Uditha Jayasinghe Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday defended declining reserves, insisting that they were built up to be used in times ...

WASHINGTON: National Geographic Traveller magazine has named Sri Lanka among its top six destinations for world travellers in 2012, lauding the island nation’s heritage sites, wildlife, lush landscapes and pristine beaches. Sri Lanka, Traveller writes in its November/December issue, means “resplendent isle, and the natural charms of this pear-shaped island in the Indian Ocean that ...

National Geographic Traveler magazine has named Sri Lankaamong top six destinations for world travelers in 2012. It focused particularly on the island’s hill country, heritage sites, and pristine beaches. The magazine, in its Nov/Dec issue, describes that Sri Lanka’s hill country features stunning scenery, tea plantations, and ancient Buddhist temples. “This mountainous, mist-draped realm has ...

Former Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Vasantha Leelananda in this interview with the Daily FT shares some key insights on the future of tourism industry in post-war Sri Lanka Q: Do you believe that the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is on the correct path in terms of sustainability and growth? A: Yes. ...

The best way to make the benefits of ICT to reach all the people, especially the disadvantaged as envisaged by the President is to develop local e-content talent, said President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. The Presidential Secretary said so while participating as the Guest of Honour at the e-Swabhimani Awards 2011 held in Colombo recently. Speaking ...

Eco-labels get special platform at SLDF 2011 Apparel showSri Lanka’s apparel industry has long been established as a visionary garment maker, through its responsible practices and campaigns like ‘Garments without Guilt’. A key point stressed at the recently concluded ‘South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum’ that affects the future of this influential industry, is the co...

(Srilankamirror) - In a bid to attract more Chinese tourists to the island, Sri Lanka has opened a page on the Chinese social networking site - www.renren.com. Xinhua reports that it is part of an ambitious plan to accelerate tourism in the country after the rout of the LTTE. The Sri Lanka

Corporate athletism programme to be launched to the private sector Each year globally the top four business professionals in a country who practice the values of Rotary, gets selected for a Group study exchange programmes(GSE) to different parts of the world by Rotary International. Some of the countries that Sri Lanka have partnered are Brazil, ...

Sri Lanka Tourism opened a public page on Chinese Facebook, www.renren.com, with the ambition of promoting its product among the Chinese nationals. This step has been taken at a time when tourist arrivals in the island have nearly exceeded targets. With the continued efforts of the Sri Lanka

Achieving another remarkable milestone in the country’s booming tourism industry, Sri Lanka Tourism welcomed the arrival of 750,000th tourist in year 2011 at the Bandaranaike International Airport today (24th Nov.) evening.

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals Thursday marked surpassing of its targets for the year 2011.Sri Lanka Tourism welcomed the arrival of 750,000th tourist in the year2011. According to Sri Lanka Tourism Board this is the highest arrival ever achieved.

Achieving yet another remarkable milestone in the country’s booming tourism industry, Sri Lanka Tourism welcomed the arrival of the 750,000th tourist in 2011 at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday. This is the first-ever time that the tourism industry has received arrivals

Managing Director and CEO of McQuire Rens and Jones (Pvt) Ltd. and non-executive director on the Board of Entrust Securities Ltd., Nalin Jayasuriya, recently conducted two sessions for the top team of Servicom Medical Products Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recently. His sessions were followed by with a focus group discussion facilitated by Nalin, on ...

Sri Lanka Tourism welcomes the 750,000th tourist for 2011 a short while agothus recodring the highest amount of arrivals ever in history, Sri Lanka Tourism stated.

Sri Lanka tourism welcomes the 750,000th tourist arrival which exceeds its target for 2011. This is the highest arrival ever in history, the Government Information Department stated

  Sri Lanka is reaching its annual 2011 target of 750,000 today (Thursday) – more than five weeks before the year is over – while  the number of tourists by end 2011 is expected to reach 800,000, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Nalaka Godahewa said. He told TimesOnline

This is the week of Budget bashing for some and for others it is the week for inventing cute ways to meet the bashes. As is usual for most, it is looking at this all in the ‘what’s in it for me?’ mode. For some, it is also about ‘who said what’ and not ‘what’s ...

‘Sancharaka Udawa’ will be held on 31 January 2012 at the Ceylon Continental Hotel from 3 p.m. onwards Sri Lanka will witness one of the most unique initiatives taken by the travel and tourism industry for the second consecutive year, in the form of ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ 2012. Conceptualised and spearheaded by the Sri Lanka Association ...

Institute of Hospitality – Sri Lanka Chapter, the association working towards professional development and networking amongst hospitality professionals, has organised the Chairman’s Annual Black Tie Dinner on 29 November 2011 at the Oak Room of Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo. This is an annual event in the hospitality events calendar of Sri Lanka and the only ...

Former Coral Gardens Hotel redeveloped and rebranded with Rs. 1.2 b investmentJohn Keells Hotel Group’s latest refurbished and rebranded Chaaya property, Chaaya Tranz, Hikkaduwa, hosted a fabulous launch party on Saturday night, unveiling the hotel’s ‘tranzformation’ with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa as Chief Guest and Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeyward...

Cinnamon Grand Colombo won the Best Theme Restaurant Award and The Best Spice Ice Cream Corner Award at the World Spice Food Festival organised by Sri Lanka Tourism, at Water’s Edge hotel last week. Cinnamon Grand, showcased Pakistani Food at the festival, with the expertise of leading

Institute of Hospitality – Sri Lanka Chapter, the association working towards professional development and networking amongst hospitality professionals, has organised the Chairman’s Annual Black Tie Dinner on 29 November at the Oak Room of Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo. This is an annual event in the hospitality events calendar of Sri Lanka and the only hospitality ...

Famed star class hotel located on the Golden Mile of Beruwela, Eden Resort and Spa (LOLC Leisure Group Hotel), made history when it created the Signature Cocktail for Sri Lanka Tourism for the Year 2012 at a ceremony held in Mount Lavinia Hotel earlier this month. This event was held

A leader in Sri Lanka’s hospitality trade, the Mount Lavinia Hotel (MLH) is known throughout the world for its scenic beauty and first-rate services. Although a historic hotel aged beyond two centuries, MLH moves parallel to the 21st century hospitality trade practices and innovations, and its values are very much in par with ethical practices ...

. The joint efforts made by Sri Lanka Tourism, Sri Lankan Airlines and The Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo w...

Sri Lanka Tourism this week formally welcomed Akira Kanai the President and the Executive Committee of Japan Association for Travel Agents (JATA). Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Managing Director Rumy Jauffer welcomed them at a brief held

By Cheranka Mendis The tourism industry yesterday welcomed the reduction in the online visa processing fee from the initial US$ 50 flat rate for every country, giving into the concerns and objections of industry stakeholders. The scheme, scheduled to be in effect from January 2012, will now charge US$ 10 from travellers from South Asian ...

Sri Lanka Tourism last week participated at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London with 49 companies representing the Travel, hotel and hospitality industry, to communicate the key messages for tourism on the island in 2012 and beyond. The opening ceremony was held on the Sri Lanka pavilion

Japan Association for Travel Agents (JATA) President Akira Kanai and the Executive Committee arrived in Sri Lanka over the weekend on a familiarisation tour. The delegation comprising 25 members will remain on the island until 16 November. During the visit, the delegation is expected to visit Colombo, Pinnawela, Kandy, Dambulla, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. The delegation ...