Business Travel

20% increase in tourist arrivals in November

by Lalin Fernandopulle

Despite a major setback in the number of tourist arrivals up to October this year there was a 20 per cent increase in November due to the England Test cricket series, said Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, George Michael.

The English Test cricket series and the visit of the Barmiyan Army attracted over 10,000 British tourists and more tourists are expected to visit the country during the festive season.

He said tourists are not swayed by isolated terror attacks and minor incidents. No country is free from internal conflicts. Terrorism is a common phenomenon in the world today. Tourists have always preferred to visit Sri Lanka despite the negative publicity.

Tourism was affected primarily due to the attacks on the Katunayake Airport and the Anuradhapura Airforce base. The bomb scare in the country is a major drawback to promote tourism.

A significant drop in the number of tourist arrivals was recorded from February to August this year with the highest in May. Tourist arrivals dropped by 40 per cent in May compared to the number of arrivals last year. Michael said despite the challenges the Tourism Development Authority and the Convention Bureau have been promoting Sri Lanka as an ideal destination in the Western, Middle East and Asian markets.

Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda held discussions with his counterpart in India to promote Sri Lankan destinations and MICE tourism. Around 35 Sri Lankan destinations will be promoted in the Indian tourism market.

He said the focus will be on promoting Buddhist sites, a key feature of the links between the two countries. Steps have been taken to develop tourism through a private-public sector partnership. India is one of the largest markets for Sri Lanka's tourism industry with over 20 per cent of the arrivals.

There will be over 500,000 tourist arrivals this year and with the marketing and promotional strategies planned for next year we are confident that we will achieve the one million target", he said.

Tourist arrivals up to November this year were 432,892.The number of tourist arrivals last year was 559,603.

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 Heritance Kandalama, one of the Top 15 Green Hotels in the world

Raising Sri Lanka's profile as an eco-tourism destination, Heritance Kandalama was yet again recognised for its environmental commitment by the popular US-based Travel and Leisure magazine, as one of the top 15 green hotels in the world.

The magazine in collaboration with Conservation International of USA has developed a green-hotel assessment questionnaire about water and energy conservation, elimination of wastage, and supporting local habitats and communities to come up with a list of 15 favourite environmentally friendly hotels.

A complete list of hotels with the highest environmental standards appears in the November 2007 issue of the magazine that is published by American Express Publishing Corporation.

Heritance Kandalama, the flagship property of Sri Lanka's leading resort operator Aitken Spence is adored by many a Sri Lankan as well as foreign leisure seekers alike.

Arguably the most enticing piece of architecture conceptualised by the late Jeoffery Bawa, the most prolific and respected architect from Sri Lankan, Heritance Kandalama is a masterpiece in its own right.

Singapore - Moscow flights daily from March 20

Singapore Airlines will fly daily the Singapore - Moscow route from March 20, 2008. The existing three-times-weekly service via Dubai will be complemented with a four-times-weekly non-stop service (which will continue to Houston, in the United States of America).

"We are delighted that our market has been building steadily on the Moscow route. We find there is real interest and attraction in Singapore, as well as other onward destinations - especially Bali and Australia - among Russian holidaymakers and business travellers," said Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Marketing and Regions, Huang Cheng Eng.

"Our new service to Houston, Texas, will allow us to step up the frequency to Moscow to a daily operation. It will provide Singapore Airlines connections between Moscow and three other cities: Houston, Dubai and, Singapore," Huang said.

The new, non-stop, flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, fitted with Singapore Airlines new generation cabin products across all three classes.

The B777-300ER includes the world's most spacious Business Class, in a 1-2-1 configuration with fully flat beds.

Singapore Airlines began flights to Moscow's Domedodovo Airport in March 2006, with a three-times-weekly service via Dubai.

This flight will continue to operate from Singapore on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The new non-stop flight will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with a morning departure and afternoon arrival into Moscow.

The return journey will operate via Dubai from Moscow on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while the non-stop flight will depart in the late evening on the other days, arriving in Singapore late the following morning.

Siddhalepa opens first Ayurvedic spa in Colombo

Renowned for its 200-year tradition in Ayurveda, the House of Siddhalepa opened its newest Ayurveda spa in Colombo 7. Positioned as its premium product, the Siddhalepa Ayurveda Spa offers authentic Ayurveda wrapped in the luxury of a star-class spa.

From the floor made of natural woods to relax the body, to a VIP shower cubicle with a faucet like a waterfall, to a pebble walk to relax the tensest of feet, Siddhalepa has paid attention to every detail to make the guest feel relaxed, rejuvenated and pampered.

The Siddhalepa Ayurveda Spa offers the guest the spacious graciousness of an old colonial mansion complete with high ceiling and wide staircase combined with every modern comfort.

As one enters, bare feet sink into cool, clean cement and wood floors while the nostrils inhale the heady aroma of a concoction of herbs specially brewed by the House of Siddhalepa.

It has been designed by leading architect Anton Jacob of Elephant Corridor fame. Each treatment room has a massage bed made of kohomba to relax the body. Every room is different to provide guests with a variety of soothing colours.

The VIP room is a suite in itself complete with a marble sink, cement bath and shower whose faucet offers special pressure therapy in that it pours out water like a waterfall.

While awaiting treatment, guests can sink their feet on a walk of cool, black pebbles and so relieve stress. After treatment, there's a relaxation room whose focal point is a bowl of overflowing water, the constant gentle drip of which soothes and calms the mind.

Siddhalepa Ayurveda Spa offers treatment to relieve stress, purify the system, and rejuvenate the body, mind and soul, from simple half-hour foot therapy to full-day packages.

Apart from the traditional Ayurvedic shirodara and steam bath treatment, the Ayurveda Spa offers pampering and rejuvenating in a variety of baths such as milk bath, fruit bath and vegetable baths such as papaya, pumpkin, cucumber and siyambala baths, each for a different skin type.