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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Travel & Tourism Russians promote Lanka's tourism by Arundathie Abeysinghe
There has been much talk about the revival of tourism in Sri Lanka, specially after the tsunami. The media, the Ceylon Tourist Board as well as those engaged in the Travel and Tourism sector have strived to promote Sri Lanka's tourism apart from 'sun and beaches'. Thus, tourism promotion about the hill country, wild life sanctuaries and cultural sites have become much talked about at present. Foreign tour operators and individuals are now deviating from the 'sun and beaches' concept to promote tourism. Recently, a Russian TV crew arrived in Sri Lanka to produce a documentary film on the post-tsunami situation and promote Sri Lanka's rich tourism potential. President of the Ceylon Club in Russia and General Director of Sputnik Asia (Travel Company) and member of the International Federation of Journalists, Farkhad O. Babakhanov told the Sunday Observer that their main aim was to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination in Russia thus helping not only sightseers and holiday makers but also those interested in researching the culture and tradition of Sri Lanka. Our company Sputnik Asia and JMT Moscow and Moslanka carried out several promotions to increase tourist arrivals from Russia to Sri Lanka after the tsunami. "As a journalist I try my best to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination", he said. On February 29, this year we had a special meeting with the Central Press House of Moscow to discuss the promotion of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. About one-and-a-half months after the tsunami, Sputnik Asia and JMT Company and Moslanka produced a documentary film on the post-tsunami situation in Sri Lanka to promote Sri Lanka as a safe tourist destination.
As a result of this documentary as well as (many newspaper articles in Russia about the situation in Sri Lanka) Russians had the opportunity to see the current situation in Sri Lanka and this has resulted in the arrival of Russians to Sri Lanka. We are not talking about the tsunami. Now we are promoting the beautiful landscape, natural resources, fauna and flora of Sri Lanka. These programs will be telecast several times and would attract more tourist arrivals. In the documentary, we have highlighted many places of interest such as the Cultural Triangle, the hill country and wild life parks. Before the tsunami many Russians were not very familiar about Sri Lanka, but now they are acutely aware about Sri Lanka's natural resources. Thus the Central Press House has formed an International Ceylon Club among journalists and tour operators where members include those from the International Ceylon Club of Journalists, tour operators and the business circle of Sri Lanka and Russia. The members of the business circle will help us to promote tourism. The idea of the Ceylon Club is to promote tourism and Sri Lanka's culture in Russia. Sputnik Asia, JMT Travels and Moslanka organised our tour. Close to winter, there will be more tourists and journalists visiting Sri Lanka and we hope to conduct more programs in advance. There will be a new website on Sri Lanka the International Ceylon Club with positive information about the country. "As President of the Ceylon Club I organised all these tours," he said. Russians who returned from Sri Lanka spoke about the present situation in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan hospitality, culture and beauty. This too, helped to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Our mission is to create a good image about Sri Lanka in Russia and thus promote Sri Lanka as a safe destination, Farkhad said. New Yorker opens restaurant in Dodanduwa New Yorker Alexander Stanich opened his new bar and restaurant, firefly in Dodanduwa. The planned January opening was delayed due to the South Asian tsunami disaster, but having regrouped his staff and put operations back on track, chef Stanich is upbeat about the new venture. "We're in a great place", says Stanich. "There's amazing fresh local produce and seafood here, and I'm really excited about our menu. We're taking all these wonderful ingredients and putting them together in ways that give a nod to South and Southeast Asian cuisine as well as the sort of imaginative cooking that's happening in New York City right now. Our staff is being trained to deliver a New York style of service - dynamic, knowledgeable, and friendly, but efficient as well". Firefly is housed in a classic colonial mansion, exquisitely renovated to create an urbane, eclectic environment while preserving the elegant original architectural details. It is convenient to both Galle (10 km) and Hikkaduwa (2 km). "We're right on the Galle Road, and we're expecting a great mix of tourists, expats, and Colombo residents heading for vacation in the South", Stanich says. We've already had (post-tsunami relief) aid workers and journalists stopping in to check out the place, and they've been thrilled about the food and the atmosphere". SriLankan opens new Business class Lounge at BIA SriLankan Airlines has commissioned its luxurious new "Serendib Lounge" for the use of Business Class passengers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) adding yet another dimension to the national carrier's efforts to make Colombo the preferred hub of South Asia. "I think our Business Class travellers will agree that this lounge is certainly very impressive. The Bandaranaike International Airport is improving every day and we at SriLankan are closely supporting the work of the government in developing its facilities," said Peter Hill, CEO of SriLankan Airlines. The Serendib Lounge was commissioned by Peter Hill, CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Dilip Nijhawan CEO of SriLankan Catering Services Ltd, M.L.A.M. Hisbullah, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd, Asoka Hettigoda, Managing Director of Hettigoda Group, Nigel O'Shea, Head of Service Delivery at the National Carrier and Shalitha Wijesundera, Executive Director of AASL. "We are constantly seeking ways of improving our product, and this new Business Class lounge adds yet another dimension to our services that our passengers can enjoy," Hill said. |
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