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Sri Lanka Tourism Stall Wins “Best Decoration Award” at the OTM - Mumbai and New Delhi

Sri Lanka Tourism stall was awarded the “Best Decoration Award” at India’s biggest international travel show, OTM- held in Mumbai from 7-9th February and in New Delhi from 13-15 February 2014. Sri Lanka Tourism stall stood elegant at the exhibition, with its décor of water sports, Colombo city, beaches, wild life and festivals of Sri Lanka. Among the crowd of visitors that attracted the stall were the representatives from national tourist organizations, state tour operators, tour & travel agents, and online travel agencies. Countries such as Russia, Malaysia, Switzerland, China, Egypt, Thailand, Maldives, China, Sweden, and Argentina were among the other international participants at the OTM 2014. For the third consecutive year, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau together with 26 company representatives from the travel and hotel industry in Sri Lanka participated at the OTM Mumbai and New Delhi. Sri Lanka Mission in Mumbai and Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi facilitated the participation of Sri Lanka Tourism at the event. OTM is considered the largest travel trade show in India, connecting the global travel fraternity for more than two decades. OTM is also the only travel show in India with a balanced mix of travel trade, corporate and general visitors. It is the best platform for marketing to the Indian travel trade, MICE segment and tourists. Every year, OTM draws participants from National Tourist Organizations, State Government Tourism Departments, Tour Operators, Travel Agents, Hotel & Resorts, Airlines, Online Travel Agencies and many other segments of the travel and tourism industry.

Filed Under: Latest News on Sunday, March 2, 2014 No Comments

“Sri Lanka is Set for a Tourism Boom ” Says China Daily Newspaper

The latest issue of leading Chinese newspaper, China Daily Asia Weekly has carried an article on Sri Lanka Tourism stating that “Sri Lanka is all set to transform its tourism sector and make it the largest foreign exchange earner by attracting 2.5 million tourists in year 2016.On its path for expanding tourism sector a heavy focus has been given to attract Chinese tourists and investors alike”. The cover story of the has highlighted that Sri Lanka is becoming one of the most sought after new holiday destinations for Chinese travelers who seek a mix bag of exotic experience and exciting travel.

Raving the richness of Sri Lanka’s diverse landscape, the China Daily comments: “With its golden beaches, towering mountains, ancient monuments and stunning wildlife all enclosed in a compact island, Sri Lanka is pretty much the perfect holiday destination”. The article features views of various Sri Lanka tourism industry authorities and other stakeholders capturing their thoughts on the Chinese market tourism promotions and investments. “Tourism is a key revenue-generating sector of the Sri Lankan economy and we have identified China and a few other countries as the potential market to promote our tourism, We are also planning to take part in five international travel fairs and organize familiarization tours for around 200 foreign journalists and tour operators in 2014.” Last year, the three-day Sri Lanka Shines in Beijing campaign was conducted in the Chinese capital, while promotional campaigns and a 200-bus branding exercise we carried out in the major Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou for a period of six months.” the top management of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has mentioned to China Daily Asia Weekly.

on Monday, February 24, 2014 No Comments

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Strategy Highly Acclaimed by China - Wins the Prestigious Award for “Most Friendly Government Institute Worked with China in Year 2013”

Embassy of The People’s Republic of China has placed honor on Sri Lanka Tourism by declaring them as the winner of the prestigious award for “most friendly government institute worked with China in year 2013”. The award was received by Mr. Bashwara Gunarathna –Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism from H.E. Ambassador of China Wu Jianghao, in a grand ceremony recently held at BMICH-Colombo parallel to Chinese New Year Celebrations.

The "Happy Chinese New Year Art Performance" held at BMICH was graced by the presence H. E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa ,Hon. Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Hon. Minister Maithreepala Sirisena , Mr. Lalith Weeratunga –secretary to the president . "Top 10 Sri Lankan Partners", "Excellent Construction Projects in Sri Lanka" and "Excellent Sri Lankan Staff" were awarded to the contributors for China-Sri Lanka cooperation at the Celebration. Colorful and diverse performances were staged by staff from both Chinese and Sri Lankan companies, local Chinese entities and Chinese Embassy at this occasion. Sri Lanka Tourism won the award for excellence formulating a novel tourism strategy for China during year 2013 and partnering and collaborating with Chinese authorities to gain their maximum contribution to successfully implementing the strategy in the Chinese market.

Sri Lanka Tourism carried out several major promotional campaigns in China by identifying it as a major emerging market. The strategic promotional campaigns of Sri Lanka Tourism were designed on the instruction and direct guidance of the Minister of Economic Development, Hon.Basil Rajapaksa, and secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development Dr.P.B.Jayasundara, using innovative tools and methods which were far away with traditional promotional methods executed previously. Accordingly, Sri Lanka Tourism carried out aggressive mega promotional campaigns in many emerging markets including China in year 2013 in order to increase awareness, product knowledge on the destination.

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Heritance Tea Factory

Located in the cool climes of Nuwara-Eliya surrounded with mountains and estates of Sri Lanka's very own "Tea", Heritance Tea Factory Hotel is one of the most unique hotels in the country. A modernized architectural masterpiece of an old rundown tea factory used under the British rule, this hotel offers guests the ambiance of the Colonial times while providing one of the best services to make your stay worthwhile.

on Saturday, February 15, 2014 No Comments

“Sri Lanka Tourism & Peking Express (Belgium) Sign an Agreement to Promote Sri Lanka Through a Popular Adventure Reality Series”

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and The Echo Line Limited (ECL)- a Belgium based Film Production Company along with the French Company “Label Aventure” entered into an agreement for producing the 10th season of Adventure reality series called “Peking Express” for the French TV channel M6. The program will showcase entire 03 episodes out of the 11 taking place in Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka will get 330 minutes of exposure with the title called “Share the dream”.
Peking Express is a Dutch/Flemish reality game show that follows a series of couples as they hitchhike to or from Beijing. The series has already gone through five seasons. In the Netherlands it is screened by Net 5 and in Belgium by VT4. A German version was shown in 2004. The concept has also been sold to Scandinavia where it was broadcast for the first time in the autumn of 2007. The Scandinavian version is shown on Kanal 5 in Sweden, TV Norge in Norway and Kanal 5 in Denmark.

A French version named Pékin Express is screened by M6, with nine seasons aired by 2013. It can be seen on TV5 outside France. In Spain, the local version Pekín Express is shown on Cuatro, with four seasons by 2011. An Italian version has been produced in 2012 by RAI and shown on Rai 2 with success; a second season will be broadcast in 2013. In this connection, a team of 48 members will be in Sri Lanka from 14th – 25th Feb. 2014 for the filming of the 3 episodes of this show.

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Sinhala & Tamil New Year Festival- April 13th & 14th

When the sun moves from Pisces to Aries, the Sinhalese Buddhist and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka join forces to celebrate Aluth Avurudda – their mutual new year.
This is also coincides with the time when the harvest ends, so the colorful fruit from the trees is collected in bulk to fuel the week long celebrations. Festivities are prepared well in advance and most of the country grinds to a halt as hundreds travel home to be with their families and stores close down in their wake – it can be impossible to track down the simplest of things just before it all starts.

The rituals begin with the cleaning of the house and lighting of an oil lamp, and woman congregate to bash on the raban (drum) to warn others of the incipient change in the year. If you fail to hear this, a storm, firecrackers is bound to hammer the point home. Families indulge in a variety of rituals which are carefully determined by astrological calculations-from lighting the fire to making the kiri bath (milk rice) bath, to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels.

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The Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Annual Hot Air Ballooning Festival organized by the Ceylon Air Ship and Balloon Club is held in March in and around Sigiriya, Hambanthota and Colombo with the participation of nearly 40 participants from around the world. The Balloonists follow a path around the country traveling from down south to North-central plains of Sri Lanka and ending in Independence Square in Colombo for final display of the balloons participating in the event.

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Festive

With a population composed with many a races and religions, Sri Lanka is never short of festivals and celebrations. Every month brings a celebration either religious or cultural importance, making Sri Lanka one of the countries with highest number of celebrations and holidays.

The Sinhala-Tamil New year festival in April is the most important cultural festival in the country. The festival marks the beginning of the New Year and the end of harvesting season. A lengthy holiday and a table full of oily traditional delicacies like kokis, makes the New Year festival one of the long awaited festivals in the country.

The May full moon poya day or Vesak is the most important religious celebration in Sri Lanka, where Buddhists celebrate the nativity, enlightenment and passing away of Lord Buddha with many celebrations. Sri Lankans of every religion crowd the roads to enjoy Vesak decorations including pandals and lanterns and many a makeshift alm houses that line the roads offering every food item from beverages, dessert to main meals.

Filed Under: a on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 No Comments

Essence

Despite its fame as a resplendent island and a leading tourist destination, the secret of Sri Lanka’s attraction lies with its people. The spice addicted, cricket crazy and tea drinking people of Sri Lanka are famed for big smiles and a bigger heart. With a culture enriched with three thousand years of knowledge, Buddhism and many a colonial traditions, the Sri Lankan society is a potpourri of religions and races different yet similar in many a ways.

The Sri Lankans all love their food spicy and their tea light; an unavoidable for a country, which produces the world’s best spices and tea. Introduced to the country in the 19th century by colonial British Ceylon tea is the best tea in the world while Sri Lanka has also been known for its high quality spices since time immemorial.

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Wild

Despite its small size Sri Lanka boasts of one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world whether in plants or animals and is included among the top five biodiversity hotspots in the world. Of the ninety-one species of mammals found in Sri Lanka Asian elephants, sloth bear, leopards, sambar and wild buffaloes engages the majority of the attention of wildlife enthusiast. Yet the rarest mammals of Sri Lanka are the red slender Loris, Toque Macaque, and Purple-faced Langur, who according to IUCN clarifications are endangered due to habitat loss.

Meanwhile the ocean around Sri Lanka is home to large families of cetaceans including the mighty blue whales, sperm whales and lively dolphins. Altogether 26 species of cetaceans rule the waters surrounding the country, making it one of the best locations for whale and dolphin watching.

Despite the mighty elephants and rare amphibians found in the country birds are the glory of the Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Boasting nearly 433 bird species of which 233 are resident Sri Lanka holds 20 endemic species while another 80 species have developed distinct Sri Lankan races, compared to their cousins in Indian mainland.