Travel / Lifestyle

Think global and act local - Kuoni Consumer Services Director

Be proactive and plan to fill the hotel and resort rooms you already have before opening more hotels and resorts, said Consumer Services Director Kuoni Travel Limited UK Francis Torilla.

He said that in 2004 Sri Lanka occupied the fourth position within the Kuonis Worldwide program and prior to 2004 the destination maintained the second position. But after the tsunami it fell to seventh place and it is still there.

Torilla said that the other destinations which were affected by the tsunami turned around much quicker than Sri Lanka. For example Thailand and the Maldives have now fully recovered and are seeing real growth.

The Maldives has been very proactive in promoting the destination and it has helped them to attract many new customers annually.

He said that the future is now and as a industry we are good talkers but now it is time to walk the talk.

He said that tourism need not be expensive. But look around, think global and act local, source your produce locally.

This will not only help give you fresh produce to the tourist but help the community as well. Switch off all electrical equipment when not in use, this will help conserve energy.

Torilla said that all of us want to make money but in a responsible way. We want to help your country but at the end of the day we are all in a business and we have to make profits to plough them back to the industry.

Therefore we have to be cautious and think and act in a responsible manner.

Responsible Tourism Partnership (RTP) Sri Lanka was created by the Travel Foundation in the UK identifying Sri Lanka as a favourite destination among British tourists.

RTP is incorporated as a non-profit making public company and it actively promotes sustainable tourism solutions for the country, Director/Advisor RTP Charmarie Maelge told a seminar on "Profiting from Tourism Business in the Future: The way forward."

The aims of RTP include developing and implementing practical sustainable tourism solutions to help protect and enhance Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, promoting the country as a highly valued responsible tourism destination for visitors, coordinating and managing delivery of tourism related projects with the objective of contributing towards the economic environmental and social well-being of the people.

RTP prioritises issues affecting the future sustainability of Sri Lanka's tourism and implements a program of activities to address the issues, engages in projects to help communities enhance their livelihoods and generates resources for environmental conservation, supports activities directed towards long term sustainable tourism priorities and disseminates information on tools and best practice guidelines for the tourism industry and for visitors on responsible tourism.

RTP has called upon the tourism industry, others directly and indirectly involved in tourism and our visitors to actively participate in responsible tourism so that Sri Lanka will be a special destination for all of us to live. Practical and simple actions by all of us can make a world of difference to help make the holiday experience better for our visitors.

SG.

Emirates strengthens network in Asia Pacific

On the wings of its successful start of services to Nagoya and the pre-launch road-show in Beijing, Emirates will strengthen its route network in the Asia Pacific to better serve its customers and consolidate its presence in the region.

September 1 will become a red-letter-day on Emirates' Asia-Pacific calendar with increased frequency to Perth, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and the launch of daily services to Beijing.

From this day, the airline's service to Perth will become a double daily from the current 11 weekly flights, sending a strong signal of commitment to its Australian stakeholders and sealing Emirates' presence in the country for the long-haul. The second daily will be served with the Boeing 777-200 aircraft, offering 290 seats - 12 in First Class, 42 in Business and 236 in Economy and 18 tonnes of cargo.

Emirates has designed its timetable carefully for quick and convenient connections between Perth and the Middle East as well as Europe enabling same day travel to several destinations.

Emirates on-line promo in Colombo

Travellers with Emirates out of Colombo who book their tickets on-line via the Emirates website www.emirates.com/lk will be eligible to win prizes in an exciting new promotion launched by the award-winning Dubai-based airline.

The Colombo office of Emirates is offering one lucky traveller the chance to win 65,000 Skywards Miles from the airline's frequent flyer program Skywards, by booking travel on-line anytime from September 1 to November 30.

To win this grand prize or be eligible to win a monthly gift pack, the on-line booking must culminate in travel on Emirates during the three months of the promotion.

The Skywards Miles won can be redeemed for a free air ticket or many other benefits offered by Skywards, including upgrades, hotel accommodation, excursions, exclusive shopping, and fine dining.

SriLankan Cares helps children in the East

Cutting across ethnicity and religion, SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier has again stood fast for the children of Sri Lanka. The Community Development Trust of the airline, SriLankan Cares will be completing its second school project on September 16, this time in tsunami devastated Kalmunai on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.

In the wake of the tsunami tragedy of 2004, SriLankan Airlines through its Community Development arm of SriLankan Cares pledged its support to the government to rebuild a school.

A memorandum of understanding between the national carrier and the Ministry of Education saw the launch of the project to renovate Al-Bahariya Maha Vidyalaya in Kalmunai.

SriLankan Cares committed itself to rebuild the primary school which could cater to 700 students, with 22 classrooms, fully equipped computer lab, canteen, toilets, auditorium and an administrative area for the principal, costing Rs. 50 million.