Youngest MD in Travel Industry

Anjalo Mendis was just 20 years old when he took over the family business of Bernard Tours and Travels (Pvt) Ltd, as its Managing Director.

Since then, Anjalo has come a long way to make Bernard Tours and Travels one of Sri Lanka's leading travel companies. He had worked round the clock to promote Lanka tourism around the globe, and bring in more and more tourists to this gem in the Indian Ocean.

'Global tourism is a highly competitive field where ultramodern facilities are offered to tourists in many developed countries', Anjalo said. Even in Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, the facilities and prices are so attractive that the choice is always for the best, he said. After the Tsunami in Sri Lanka, the response to Sri Lanka tourism from the US and Canada has been very good on account of the way Sri Lanka handled the situation.

At present Bernard Tours and Travels (Pvt) Ltd are handling a good number of up-market clients - the high spending tourists visiting Sri Lanka from Belgium and France who spend upto US dollars 800-1000 per day.

Bernard Tours has ventured into Hotel Management and in the near future the company hopes to go for 'Luxury Boutique' hotels.

'The personal touch and experience in the travel trade that could bring in more tourists to Sri Lanka. Tourists visiting Sri Lanka should get the best for the extra dollar spent. It is then that they become Sri Lanka's permanent advertising agents', Anjalo said.

(BJ)