Business Travel
Final report on community based sustainable tourism development
The Advisory Panel on Community Based Tourism has submitted its Final
Report on community based sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka
to Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda.
This report identifies two categories of community based tourism
projects. The first category represents the projects recommended by the
advisory panel for implementation. The second category represents the
projects reviewed by the panel for future consideration.
The recommendation of the proposed projects for the implementation is
primarily based on the principles of community based sustainable tourism
development.
In addition, availability of tourism related resources,
location-based comparative advantages, marketability of the proposed
service/products, time duration for implementation, life duration of the
project, size of the budget and components of the budget, self financing
of the project at the beginning of the project, economic and financial
viability and other important criteria have been considered for this
recommendation. Multi ethnic and multi religious community
representation has also been accounted.
The report presents the panel’s policy recommendations for the
development of community based tourism in Sri Lanka with the vision that
“Stand Together for Rekindling the Flames of Heritage and Pride of Our
Communities”.
To achieve this vision the committee recommended the introduction of
a national level awareness program for all stakeholders of community
based tourism development in Sri Lanka, Establish a well coordinated
administrative mechanism and organisational setting at national and
local level to implement community based tourism projects and programs,
and develop an informative database for community based tourism that
should be accessible for all stakeholders of the industry such as
important national level involvements.
The Advisory Panel on Community Based Tourism is headed by Dr. D. A.
C. Silva, Chairman of the Advisory Panel (Senior Lecturer, University of
Colombo) and Palitha Gurusinghe, Coordinator of the Advisory Panel
(President of Sri Lanka Eco Tourism Foundation).
The Executive Members are Dr. Wimalarathana Thera, Senior Lecturer,
University of Colombo, Dr. Thilak T Ranasinghe, Director, Dept. of
Agriculture, Western Province, Palitha Wijemanne, General Manager,
Confifi Hotel supplies, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, CEO - Jetwing Eco
Holidays, Mrs. Sepalika Sudasinghe, Consultant, SLIDA, U. P. S.
Pathirana, Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, D. L. A.
H. Shammika, Lecturer, University of Ruhuna, M. S. M. Aslem, Senior
Lecturer, Sabaragamuwa University.
Tourism has undeniable potential for pro-poor economic development in
Sri Lanka.
Community heritage and resources are now increasingly becoming
decisive inputs for tourism development as there is an increasing demand
for community based tourism services emerging among global tourists
given the present focus on sustainable development.
D. A. C. Silva, Chairman of the Advisory Panel in his introduction
outline the benefits of the growth in the tourism industry can permeate
to all other sectors of the economy through its forward and particularly
its backward linkages.
Emirates non-stop flights between Dubai and Cape Town
Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline and
Group, Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial
Operations, Gulf Middle East and Iran and Adnan Kazim, Emirates’
Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Africa along with
Emirates’ cabin crew and South African performers at the Dubai
International Airport as they flag off the airline’s first
flight to Cape Town.
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Emirates achieved a new milestone as it touched down to the vibrant
beats of the African drums at Cape Town - its 100th global destination,
and second gateway in South Africa.
Signalling the start of daily, non-stop flights between Dubai, the
nerve centre of the Middle East, and Cape Town, one of the world’s most
beautiful cities, the inaugural flight EK 770 piloted by South African
native, Capt. Chris Rademan received a traditional water canon salute
while onboard passengers were greeted by a pulsating performance by
members of the Marimba band.
A high-level Emirates delegation comprising Nabil Sultan, Senior Vice
President Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran and Adnan
Kazim, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Africa flew on the
first flight accompanied by some 250 passengers from 18 countries, some
coming from the United States, France, Germany, Poland, Kuwait, Bahrain,
India and Pakistan, in addition to Emirates’ home base, the United Arab
Emirates.
The Emirates delegation and passengers were welcomed by Lynne Brown,
Member of the Executive Council, Western Cape Province; Calvyn Gilfellan,
Chief Executive Officer, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, the official
tourism destination marketing organisation for Cape Town and the Western
Cape and over 50 representatives from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)
and Emirates South Africa.
As a result of South Africa’s growing economy and the escalating
demand for air travel, the Dubai-based airline has steadily built its
presence in the country.
Last year, Emirates strengthened its 14-flights-per-week Johannesburg
service with an additional frequency, taking the weekly total to 21
flights.
Travel deals for Standard Chartered Credit Cardholders
Standard Chartered Credit Cardholders will enjoy the best overseas
travel deals from a range of destinations that include Chennai,
Bangalore, Maldives, Bangkok and Pattaya, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai,
special travel packages to Egypt, Europe, America and a special Buddhist
pilgrimage to India and Nepal.
All the travel packages include a return air ticket on economy class,
twin sharing accommodation at star class hotels with breakfast and
return airport transfers.
The special travel packages would include additional benefits of
sight seeing on tours during which most meals will also be provided.
Standard Chartered Cardholders are also offered the privilege of opting
to settle their credit card payment on account of any of the travel
packages via a 0% interest instalment plan in 3, 6, 9 or 12 equal
monthly instalments. These special travel deals are offered up to May
31.
“This is yet another key partnership made by Standard Chartered Bank
in its commitment to offer its Cardholders some of the best deals. Since
the Travel Holiday Season is fast approaching Cardholders will
definitely see value in these travel deals and benefit from this
promotion.
Grand Hotel gets ready for
the season
The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya has been a hive of activity
these past few days, putting in the final touches to roll
out yet another season of high fun for holidaymakers from
April 9-20 . There will be a number of exciting movies lined
up for the season. |
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