SL Tourism Competition

• - 54 million trip advisor reviews and 23.2 million google searches last year 
• - 20 lucky winners to get a18 plus days holiday in Sri Lanka

 “Given the research insights that 23.2 million google searched Sri Lanka Tourism and 54 million trip advised, Sri Lanka tourism gives an indication of the importance of online communication in the decision making process of a potential traveller” said Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Dr. Rohantha Athukorala at the launch of the global online video competition " 365 days holiday" which will avail twenty lucky winners to receive a 18 plus days all-inclusive holiday in Sri Lanka. The power of armature videos hosted on the internet has now become a major influence for traveller behavior was the insight that led Sri Lanka Tourism for launching the global video competition under the theme " 365 days holiday in Sri Lanka".  The competition will feature the best 20 entries that are hosted will receive a fully expense paid vacation of 18 plus day holiday in Sri Lanka. This complimentary holiday package includes a business class return ticket, hotel stay with free entry to all key cultural and heritage sites sponsored by Sri Lanka Tourism. Sri Lanka was recently ranked as a top 22 destinations to visit in 2015 by respected US power media New York Times in its comprehensive list of top 52 places to go in 2015 . The list comprises of top and most popular cities and countries around the globe. New York Times have identified Sri Lanka as a country which is genuinely stable and also a nation which has the best diversity of attractions around the works that can be experienced in the shortest possible times which happens to be the DNA of Sri Lanka voiced Dr.Athukorala.  However New York Times points out on the luxurious accommodation facilities of Sri Lanka as well as the creativity of these facilities needs stronger communication which have the logic for the launch of global on line video competition. The competition will have a four month entry duration from September to December 2015 with the winners invited to the country during the period February- June 2016 said the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Assistant Director Harshika Abeynayake.    Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo, was earlier ranked the highest growth city on tourist arrivals by Master Card Traveller. This accolade beats China's emerging city Chengdu to second place whilst visitor arrivals crossed a million guests by the end of July at a growth of 32.1%.  As at end July 2015, in just four months, the sector crossed the 1 billion dollar earnings said Chairman Athukorala. We must now drive on- line presence and the "365 day holiday" promotion is only the beginning of the game plan he said.

Sri Lanka Tourism, Tea board and Sri Lankan Airlines quest for Guinness Record

Sri Lanka Tourism, Tea board and Sri Lankan Airlines quest for Guinness Record         

•  - 3000 kilograms of black tea to be plucked            
• - 35,000 cups of tea to be served at Esala Perahera            
• - Guinness Record attempt to be featured at global travel fairs           
• - New Global advertising campaign in the making

                 In the unique partnership between the key agencies that take Sri Lanka to the world- tourism, tea and Sri Lankan will spruce the current $61 billion dollar nation brand to achieve the targeted $80 billion dollars. The event grounded on the concept of Ceylon Tea will show case to the world on all media (traditional and Online) the Guinness Record initiative by plucking 3000 kilograms of tea at Pedro Estate with the help of 200 foreigners and serving 35,000 cups of tea at the Esala Perahera which will take Sri Lanka into the Global map across the world said Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Rohantha Athukorala. This must be supported by the launch of the global branding and promotions campaign on tourism after a lapse of 6 years which is now at 'short list' stage with where top seven global advertising agencies are in the running he emphasized. Sri Lanka Tourism will cross $3 billion dollar net receipts in 2015 and the new advertising campaign will help the Sri Lanka positioning on the proposition of the DNA - diversity, compactness and Authencity which will help the overall objective of attracting the $250 dollar tourists rather than just going after arrivals said Athukorala. The private sector partners to the Guinness record bid are Basilur the global tea brand and household business brand Maliban that will be the new ethos of the government on the Private-Public -People partnership to building brand Sri Lanka he voiced.  Research indicate that when a countries brand value pegs up the quality of investments increase whilst the quality of tourists that it can attract also increase whilst the export market country mix also tends change which is what Sri Lanka needs to do said Athukorala. At the World’s Largest Tea Party Sri Lanka tourism will invitee foreign guests from the key countries of India, china, UK, Germany, Italy, Russia, Middle East, Australian, Scandinavia and United States to be part of the event which will be linked to social media that takes the story to the key markets so that we get on the " news" of the world. Earlier this month Sri Lanka Tourism launched a unique global competition where the best twenty online videos submitted will get a 365 day holiday whilst a weekly direct mail themed ' message in a bottle" has been touching the key global media, designation marketing companies( DMC's) around the world. In the key markets we do focussed below the activations by way of Road Shows branded “One Island, thousand treasures" whilst also being in person with the private sector in the key travel and trade fairs globally under the theme " 8 wonderful experiences in 8 wonderful days" said Athukorala. We will extend the Guinness Record to the world by way of the ' ceylon tea boutique' concept which is in every exhibition that we take part globally which costs us over a billion rupees annually he said. Sri Lanka has garnered in over a million tourists in just seven months at a growth of 16.8% as at end July 2015 and July spiked to a 31.2% growth in visitors which was interesting given that China became the top source market said Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau in the news release. However, the dominance of the informal sector accounting for 49% of the arrivals which is approximately 7.3 million room nights must be addressed as we are launching a 200 million digital marketing campaign with the best online organizations that must help the formal sector that support SLTPB with the funding required for aggressive marketing commented Chairman Athukorala.

Five Aitken Spence Hotels Enter TripAdvisor Hall of Fame

Five Aitken Spence properties from Sri Lanka and the Maldives have entered the prestigious TripAdvisor Hall of Fame having being recognized for its consistent high performance in customer reviews. The world’s largest travel site recognized Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Heritance Kandalama and Heritance Tea Factory for obtaining the Certificate of Excellence for the fifth consecutive year.
Nine Aitken Spence Resorts received the Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. The Certificate of Excellence is awarded to properties that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on the travel review site. In addition to the hotels recognized in the Hall of Fame, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Heritance Ahungalla and Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara were awarded Certificates of Excellence for its ability to continuously deliver on a superior customer service experience.  "We have always strived for excellence and have nurtured a reputation of exceeding guest expectations.
 The recognition received by the resorts bear testimony to the exceptional service and memorable experiences that guests receive from our iconic properties. I would like to congratulate the resorts on their achievement and encourage them to maintain the standards set and continue to exceed expectations" said, Mr. Susith Jayawickrama, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotels.  TripAdvisor enables travelers to plan and book the perfect trip and offers advice from millions of travelers and a wide variety of travel choices. The site’s potential reach is 340 million unique monthly visitors and more than 225 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4.9 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions.  Aitken Spence Hotels manage a portfolio of hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Oman. Its premier brand in Sri Lanka, Heritance Hotels & Resorts, operates a portfolio of five unique properties in scenic locations across the island while its award winning properties in the Maldives operate under the brand Adaaran Resorts.

Esala Festival

Esala Perahera festival is as colourful as the story of its origins. Taking place in August on the ten days leading up to the full moon, the time-honoured elephant parade takes place in Kandy, the Sri Lankan centre of Buddhism. For more than 400 years, the city's Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) has housed the revered dentistry. A replica casket is used in the parades, but that doesn't stop thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from breaking out their drums, dancing shoes, whips and fire.

This spectacle can be seen, by torchlight, at the nightly elephant processions, which are actually formed of five separate parades. In the 18th century, the South Indian Nyakar dynasty introduced a Hindu element to proceedings, and four of the parades start at temples dedicated to the religion's principle deities, Vishnu, Natha, Kataragama and Pattini. The Hindu hoe-downs spill into the main parade, where the Jumbo of honour is the mighty tusker from Dalada Maligawa, carrying the golden casket. All the elephants are dressed up to the nines, clad from trunk to toe in silk costumes, glittering thread and embroidered cloth, even chains of fairy lights.

Between the elephants, the religious participants perform all kinds of devotional acts to the booming drums. Some show their faith by walking barefoot or, in the case of the Hindus, with spikes in their backs. The procession is headed by banner carriers and whip crackers, whose weapons clear the path of both evil spirits and the crush of humanity. Kandy is the country's main arts centre and the city's performers add to the chaos. Acrobatic fire performers juggle, twirl and eat oily flames, their glow reflected by palanquins teetering on elephant back.The most riotous parade happens on the last night. The following morning, preparations for next year are already underway at the 'water cutting' ceremony. A religious official draws a sword through the Mahaweli Ganga river, in a ritual designed to divide pure and impure and ensure a plentiful supply of water. Some water is kept and used in the next opening ceremony, when breadfruit trees are planted outside the temples.

The blues whales and dolphins are back in Nilaweli beach

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Since the lost whales of Trincomalee were rediscovered in 2010, by a team of naturalists at ‘Cinnamon Nature Trails', numerous sightings of blue whales, sperm whales and dolphins have taken place making the season up in the East a rewarding experience. The great blue off the coast of Trincomalee seems to be a popular playground for these marvellous marine mammals during March through April each year. As in previous years, the Cinnamon Nature Trails team is ready to take guests on a voyage that will almost guarantee a sighting of Whales and Dolphins including a glimpse of a super pod of Sperm whales often seen in Trinco during this period. With all safety measures in place and a crew well experienced to make your cruise pleasurable. The Eastern whale watch is set to begin shortly off the city by the sea. Head of Eco Tourism for John Keells Resorts Chitral Jayatilake mentioned that all guests who will flock to Trinco this season for whale watching are welcome to submit tale fluke images for an ongoing Blue whale ID programme, while clear images once selected will be uploaded to a Flickr site with picture credit. Chaaya Blu Trincomalee is situated just a few kilometres off Trincomalee and was built to reflect a retro chic design. Its strategic location gives guests the opportunity to experience these large marine mammals and the acrobatic spin of Dolphins just a few minutes away from the resort, or perhaps if one is lucky enough just at the very shores of the sea at Chaaya Blu. A selection of Beach Chalets, Superior rooms and two Suites make up a total of 81 rooms, with two restaurants; one specialized in seafood and two bars which cater to your every whim. 

Sri Lanka Tourism to take Tea theme at World Travel Mart London 2015

The leading travel industry event staged annually in London- World Travel Mart that attracts around fifty thousand tourism professionals which recorded an $244 million for the British economy and deal making at $2.5 billion dollars plus globally, Sri Lanka tourism together with the private sector will be making a strong statement given the 16.8% cumulative growth and 31.2% growth in visitor arrivals in July said Dr. Rohantha Athukorala. Sri Lanka Tourism Pavilion taking a cutting edge position of a Tea theme that will include the launch of Loolkadura- where the 1st tea bush was planted by James Taylor and Dabatenna estate of Lipton fame will be announced as World Heritage sites submissions for UNESCO certification apart from show casing the 8 wonderful experiences in 8 wonderful days he said.  The Guinness Record bid of plucking 1000kg by amateurs in Nuwara Eliya and serving 35000 cups of tea at the Esala Perahera in partnership between Sri Lankan airlines, Sri Lanka tea board and APOT will add to the statement we will make from the Sri Lanka tourism Pavilion said Market Head for UK Chameera Peiris. Given the strong imagery of Ceylon tea associated with a typical British this cutting edge theme will help attract Guests from Royalty, Chairmen of top global tea houses that will set the stage for the leading tour operators and destination marketing companies to come to our Pavilion he said.  We must find creative ways to make Sri Lanka Tourism cut through the aggressive competition apart from the Beaches that we are known for as we are up against stiff completion given that a typical British traveller googles island nations like North Atoll Male, Seashells as per the latest consumer insights of Trip Advisor. We must attract the top spending potentials British traveller as even now almost 22% of the revenue from tourism come from UK said Peiris. As at July Sri Lanka has attracted 93,223 visitors at a growth of 12.6% and we are targeting two hundred thousand guests which accounts for higher revenue per traveller than any other destination he said. Sri Lanka Tourism took a wild life theme at the Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) this year in Dubai and a Festival- Esala Perahera theme at KOTFA- Seoul, Korea.  Last edition of WTM recorded 51,500 participants with business deals worth more than £2.5 billion were triggered by the event whilst £244,340,223 million has been pumped into the economy through money spent on hotels, restaurants, flights and other discretionary spend by those visiting England’s capital city which beats the acclaimed London Fashion week said the Tourism a Promotions Bureau communique. The British Fashion Council’s London Fashion Week generates around £100 million for the London economy while hosting of seven games at the Rugby World Cup will generate £316 million to the economy.  WTM - London will showcasing around 200 countries and  5,000 exhibitors which gives indicates the entrenched competition that exists in the market so we must find unique ways to bring out the DNA of the country- Diversity, Authenticity and Compactness said Chairman Dr Athukorala. - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/83973/sri-lanka-tourism-to-take-tea-theme-at-world-travel-mart-london-2015#sthash.oN6LyAwc.dpuf

Mihin Lanka to expand operations to Kolkata.

Mihin Lanka, Sri Lanka’s national low-cost carrier will expand its operations to Kolkata, India with effect from 15 June 2015. The strategic expansion of Mihin Lanka’s network is in line with its five-year business plan to expand its route network. The airline introduced an Airbus A319 to its fleet in March 2015, and the new aircraft will service Kolkata and will also support increasing frequencies to some of the airline key routes - Dhaka, Madurai, Lahore, Gaya and Varanasi. Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and is the commercial, cultural and educational centre of East India.  Commenting on the expansion, Rohana Perera, Head of Commercial, Mihin Lanka stated, “Mihin Lanka is extremely proud to expand our network and flight operations to Kolkata, an important destination in India. Over the next five-years, Mihin Lanka with its code share partner SriLankan Airlines, is embarking on an aggressive strategy to expand its network in the region and provide seamless connectivity to rest of the world. India is one of the top emerging countries in the world and by 2023 the country is forecasted to become the second largest economy in the world in terms of GDP. With fast economic growth, India as a country also offers significant opportunities for air travel growth. Adding strategic destinations to our network over the next few years, will play a crucial role in helping us to achieve our targets.  By expanding our network to Kolkata, we are strengthening our product offering and providing our passengers with added convenience and value. We are also playing a crucial role in supporting regional connectivity as well as the growth of tourism and trade in the region.”  With the expansion of its network to Kolkata, Mihin Lanka is providing passengers with access to an exciting new destination. With a GDP of USD 29 billion, Kolkata has the third largest economy in India after Mumbai and Delhi. The city is also a centre for many thriving industries such as steel, mining, cement; pharmaceuticals, food processing, agriculture, textiles and jute which are key sectors that are driving economic growth. Being one of the most important financial hubs of East and North-East India, Kolkata is home to the Kolkata Stock Exchange and is a thriving commercial hub. India as a nation is experiencing rapid economic growth and is one of the top emerging countries in the world. As a destination,  Kolkata offers significant potential for both Mihin Lanka and SriLankan Airlines. With over 10 million passenger movements annually, Kolkata Airport is the fifth busiest airport in India.  As the former capital city of India, Kolkata is considered the birthplace of modern Indian literary, artistic and scholastic thought. The city attracts many tourists each year due to its rich cultural heritage, eye-catching architecture and historical attractions. Kolkata is also home to numerous museums and also houses the world’s largest collection of Buddhist artefacts.  Ticket sales to Kolkata will commence from 1 April 2015 onwards and special promotions will take place during the upcoming Avurudu season, giving Mihin Lanka passengers the chance to fly on the inaugural flight to Kolkata. Mihin Lanka is a leading low-cost airline in South Asia that operates across many destinations in the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and South East Asia. Since its launch in 2007, Mihin Lanka has come a long way, becoming one of the region’s most admired affordable travel brands. The airline strives to maintain the highest standards and is the only low-cost airline, which provides a complimentary on-board meal and a free checked-in baggage allowance.  Focused on delivering the best to its customers, Mihin Lanka continuously adapts to passenger needs, in order to further fulfill its mission of being the leading low-cost airline in the region.  For more information visit www.mihinlanka.com.  - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/67379/mihin-lanka-to-expand-operations-to-kolkata#sthash.7HLClELZ.dpuf