Travel / Lifestyle

Lanka to host UNWTO 2007

Themed 'Tourism opens doors for women', the United Nations World Tourism Day 2007 (UNWTO) will be celebrated on September 27 in the picnic area in Bentota from 5.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m. UNWTO has selected Sri Lanka to be this year's host country for this important event. Sri Lanka has been a UNWTO member for over 30 years.

International delegates, UN World Tourism Organisation officials, architects, social scientists, lawyers, doctors, engineers, diplomats, librarians, writers, bankers, insurers, hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, beauty consultants, sports and media personalities will be present.

In addition to the main ceremony several events have been lined up including a women tourism leaders summit, a UNWTO online Photographic Competition at the Taj Exotica Hotel, Bentota, International press conference and a special postal stamp will be issued to mark this day.

Announcing Sri Lanka as a "Green Lung Destination", the launch of UNWTO WPP world children's program and a cultural show in the evening in the Bentota Picnic Area after the Official Celebration Ceremony are also lined up. Many events have also been planned by the regional tourism authority along with stakeholders of the industry from September 26 to 28.

It includes a canoe competition, a mini marathon/fun run/a biking event, a competition on "Building Sand Castles" on the Beach, A one day cultural and sports program titled "Sinhala Aluth Avurudu", a mini marathon/fun run/a biking event and a painting competition and exhibition.

A promotional campaign themed "Men don't get it" and staging of pow wow events of professional women will be staged till October 31. Each provincial council too has planned a host of events to commemorate this year's WTO day.

Tourist Ministry Secretary P. M. Leelaratne said, World Tourism Day is commemorated on September 27 each year by appropriate events on themes selected by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the United Nations World Tourism Organisations (UNWTO) Executive Council.

Courtesy: SLTB website

Asia Pacific business travelers vote for Emirates

Emirates' leadership in the industry is not lost on its Asia-Pacific travellers, who have voted the airline the "Best Middle East/African Airline" for the fourth time in a row.

The airline received the accolade from Business Traveller Asia-Pacific at its Annual Travel Awards 2007 held in Hong Kong recently. Over 300 leaders from the travel trade industry attended the dinner in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the publication.

The awards were presented by Guest of honour Ms. Marina Mahathir, ICAAP (International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific) Liaison of The AIDS Society Asia pacific.

Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Mike Simon said. "We are delighted to receive this award, which is a vote of confidence from business travellers and our customers in the Asia-Pacific region. It's timely, as we have recently unveiled our enhanced inflight products that maximise personal space onboard and provide an incredible choice of inflight entertainment.

These innovations not only demonstrate out commitment to provide the best air travel experiences, but also sharpen our competitive edge in long-haul travel."

French support for Lanka's tourism

Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda on his recent visit to France met Monsieur Luc Chaphel Minister (Secretaire de l'etat) of Tourism and Consumer Affairs in France and discussed several areas for cooperation.

A framework for an MoU to be signed on a future date was discussed. Chaphel pledged his support in the areas of Hotel classification, training of staff in hotel management and destination marketing and called for information on projects undertaken to combat global warming.

Minister Moragoda was accompanied by Sri Lanka's Ambassador in France Ms. Chitrangani Wagiswera, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourist Board Renton de Alwis and Additional Director General Sri Lanka Tourist Board Dileep Mudadeniya.

France recorded an average 35,000 tourists along with 300,000 rooms in 2004 and 2005. Subsequent to the Travel advisory in October 2006 the number of arrivals dropped sharply. Sri Lanka Tourism is optimistic that the change of the advisory and the minister's recent visit to France will provide a kick start for winter arrivals in 2007/2008.

Tourists from France are mainly patronising the Hotels and cultural attractions in the Cultural Triangle.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board recently conducted an independent securing audit which resulted in the French Tourism operation to resume selling the destination. The results of the audit were presented on September 11 at UNESCO followed by several promotional activities.

A separate event was organised to launch the World Tourism Day celebration by inviting leading women to the travel and tourism industry in France.