The new office of Arugambay Travels and Tour was declared open on Wednesday by Minister of Tourism Promotion Faiszer Musthapha at No. 20,Deal Place, Colombo 3.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education Minister M.M. Musthoha
Advisor to the President A.H.M.Aswer, Secretary Ministry of Tourism Promotion George Michael, President Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka Kosala Wickramanayake, Partner Arugambay Travels and Tours and Arugambay Travels Hotels Mark John Scannell, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Bernard Goonetilleke and members of the business community were present at the inauguration.Inbound and outbound tour packages, air line ticketing, transportation, hotel reservations and real estate
are the services offered by the company, which is also engaged in promoting investments to the east, and will provide necessary information and consultancy services to potential investors.Arugambay Travels Hotels is engaged in building a three star hotel facility in Arugambay. The total investment of the 25 room hotel which will come up with all necessary facilities will be Rs. 203 million. The project cost is to be met with local and foreign investment.
The first stage is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. This is the first such facility to come up in the area with approvals from relevant Government institutions and the BOI.
In his welcome address Managing Director of Arugambay Travels and Tours A.M. Jaufer said that since the company started operations in 2004, it was involved in promoting tourism to the east.
He said that although the plans to built the hotel were delayed due to the situation of the country during the past few years now the company was able to pursue its targets.
"Be it local or foreign tourists, we will serve all of them with more emphasis on introducing new and exotic locations to visitors," he added.
Minister Faiszer Musthapha said: "Due to the efforts of President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Government, problems created by the 30-year-old war are over. Now it is time for all of us to build our country. There is an immense potential in the north and east for the development of tourism."
He further said that the President had given a target to increase tourist arrivals to 2.5 million by 2016. "The requirement of hotel rooms to cater to the incoming tourists is around 35,000. It is important to meet this target with good quality facilities. The hotel project started by Arugambay Travels will certainly contribute towards achieving this target."
The Minister further said that while all facilities would be provided to the foreign tourists, local tourism will also be promoted.
Scannell in his address said: "With the improved business conditions in Sri Lanka I can confidently say that Sri Lanka will become a major tourist destination in a few years. We will be trying our utmost to promote tourism in the east."
He further thanked the Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, The Board of Investment, Lanka Orix Leasing Company for all the support given for the hotel project to become a reality.
Image courtesy of go-lanka.com and mysrilankaholidays.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.