Over half-a
-million tourists are expected to visit Sri Lanka this year as the travel trade bounces back strongly from the effects of a war with hotels so heavily booked that some are even refusing new reservations till end of March, officials said.Tourism authorities have planned an aggressive global promotion campaign to lure visitors with events like night surfing and also attempts to tap the Sri Lankan diaspora to spread the word about the island's attractions.
With tourist arrivals up 31.9 percent in January alone from a year ago, the authorities expect the total number of visitors this year to increase by 25 - 30 percent given post-war revivals elsewhere.
"If you look at countries like Croatia and
Vietnam, they experienced immediate growth in the tourism sector after the war end," says Dileep Mudadeniya, managing director of Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau.Sri Lanka's 30-year ethnic war ended in May 2009, resulting in an immediate increase in tourist arrivals.
The revival has prompted international agencies to offer help to modernize tourism infrastructure.
Japan International Corporation Agency has offered 20 million US dollars to improve infrastructure in five towns that tourists frequently visit; Anuradhapura and Sigiriya in the north-central area, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy in the central hills, and Negombo on the west coast.
The World Bank is providing 18 million dollars 'capacity building' in tourism-related programs.
Mudadeniya said almost all hotels were running at 99-100 percent occupancy rates during the main winter season in the last three or four months and forward bookings are encouraging.
"I was told that 20 to 30 hotels are closed for any kind of new reservations till the end of March because they are fully booked."
The Tourism Promotion Bureau is promoting the country under its 'Visit Sri Lanka 2011' campaign highlighting the beaches, ruined cities, hilly resorts and wildlife parts that can all be experienced on the island in a short time.
"As a result of the diverse attractions we have within a small area, our intention is to promote all these areas to make sure that tourists can experience it all," Mudadeniya said.
The marketing campaign includes international promotions on leading TV stations like CNN and BBC and social networking services.
A string of events have been planned, starting from the week-long surf festival in Arugam Bay in the east, to an arts and craft festival in Sigiriya in June and a beach festival at Hikkaduwa in July.
Other international events include a jazz festival, the 'Colombo Fashion Week', a design festival and an international chess tournament.
Mudadeniya said there is also potential for the growth of cruise tourism.
"Sri Lanka, Maldives and India can provide good destinations for the cruise liners."
Louis Cruises is expected to resume calls from October this year.
Sri Lanka's newest attempt at MICE tourism, (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events) is the use of the 'Jetliner', a passenger ferry once used for transporting troops, as a floating venue.
The vessel is fully booked till the end of March.
The authorities are looking at the Indian market to promote Sri Lanka as a convention centre for the Indian corporate sector.
Related Info:
Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals
hi friends .. i just wanted to invite you to visit my blog its all about cute babies and other things. thanks ...... COME ON ... a beautiful site. You will absolutely love it.
ReplyDelete