Travel

Lanka poised to be a green destination for tourists

The safety of the planet cannot be compromised at any cost. The tourism industry, one of the largest consumers of energy launched a programe to green all hotels that would help sustain business and market to the global arena.The Switch Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project funded by the European Union was launched by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) at a ceremony held in Colombo on Tuesday.

The project will be carried out by CCC Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. the implementing arm of CCC with a grant of Euros 2 million from the EU.

The project targeting the SME hotel sector is implemented with the objective of reducing the cost of operations, helping suppliers to adopt best practices, promoting responsible tourism and increasing market acceptance.

EU Ambassador Bernard Savage said climate change is a major challenge that should be addressed urgently if the world is to avoid jeopardising the safety of the planet.

He said, motivating change at policy level, production processes and consumption patterns is crucial to achieve sustainable development.

President, Tourists Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Srilal Miththapala said that the project targets 350 hotels across the country encouraging an efficient use of all sources of energy to position Sri Lanka as the green destination for tourism."There is a conception that the hotel sector is a guzzler of energy which is not true. Many hotels have adopted environment friendly methods converting traditional production systems", he said. Miththapala said tourists arrivals this year has increased and the industry is well poised for a quick revival.The tourism industry anticipates a good winter with a series of events lined up for the season.The air travel restrictions lasting over two weeks caused huge losses to the global travel and tourism industry. Though no exact estimates have been made the crisis caused substantial losses to Sri Lankan tourism.

The Chairman, CCC, Dr. Anura Ekanayake said if France could attract around 80 million tourists a year there is no reason why Sri Lanka cannot entice at least one million visitors initially.

The Responsible Tourism Partnership, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority and the Institute of Environmental Professionals of Sri Lanka will partner the programe. (LF)

Demand for air transport improves in March

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that March 2010 international scheduled air traffic showed continued strengthening of demand. Compared to March 2009, passenger demand was up 10.3%, while cargo demand grew 28.1%. Both are improvements from the 9.0% and 26.3% growth for passenger and freight demand recorded in February.

These are strong gains, but the data is being compared to March 2009, which was the low point for international air travel during the recession. March results show that the pace of the upturn is strong. But the trauma of the recession is not over. The industry has lost two years of growth, and passenger and freight markets are still 1% below early 2008 highs. Nonetheless, the pace of improvement, based on an improving global economic situation, is much faster than anybody would have expected even six months ago, said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO.

IATA noted that the International Monetary Fund revised global GDP growth forecasts from 3.0% to 4.3% for 2010.

With a 78.0% load factor recorded in March, passenger load factors remain at record highs. While demand expanded by 10.3% in March, capacity increases stood at 2.0%, boosting the load factor and creating much tighter supply and demand conditions. Global capacity remains 3-4% below pre-crisis levels.

International freight markets are also experiencing tighter supply and demand conditions. The 28.1% improvement in demand outpaced the 5.3% capacity expansion in March. This drove freight load factors to 57.1%, the highest since November 2002 when international freight load factors stood at 58.8%.

International Passenger Demand Regional demand patterns continue to reflect the asymmetrical nature of the economic rebound.

* Asia-Pacific carriers posted strong demand growth of 12.6%, against a capacity expansion of 1.3%. The strength of the rebound in the region's economies is supporting Asia-Pacific's demand improvement. China's economy grew by 11.9% in the first quarter while India's economy is growing by 7.0%. There is also greater optimism for a return to economic growth in Japan.

* European carriers posted traffic growth of 6.0%, considerably weaker than the global improvements, but better than the 4.0% growth in February. This is the result of sluggish home economies and continuing high unemployment rates. European carriers reduced capacity by 0.8% compared to the previous year.

* North American carriers posted a traffic growth of 7.8%, lagging the global average, although considerably improved from the 4.4% recorded in February. Uncertainty over government budget cuts and tax increases is dampening demand for air travel, compared to other regions, particularly Asia-Pacific. North American carriers posted the highest load factor among the regions (81.6%) as a result of continuing careful capacity management. * Middle Eastern carriers recorded the strongest traffic growth at 25.9%. While economic growth of 5% in the region is supporting some of this increase, a large part is attributed to market share gains on long-haul markets, connecting passengers over Middle Eastern hubs.

Load factors of 76.2% were slightly below the global average.

African carriers are now starting to see improving growth, having suffered market share declines for several years. During March, demand was up 13.6% and load factors grew to 67.4% for the month.

KumbukRiver wins yet another nomination award

Sri Lanka's highest awarded resort KumbukRiver Eco Extraordinaire has received yet another World Travel Awards nomination this year in the category of World's Best Eco-Lodge.

This is the 4th consecutive nomination for KumbukRiver at the travel Oscars. The trailblazing eco resort won the World's Best Eco-Lodge award in 2008, putting Sri Lanka on the world map of tourism.

Located in Okkampitiya, Buttala, on the banks of the lively Kumbukkan Oya, KumbukRiver is a one-of-a-kind eco hideaway nestled in 16 acres of lush greenery.

As a single-party resort, the gorgeous resort with all its down-to-earth rural charm is entirely private, and its centrepiece is the world-famous Elephant Villa, a 40ft high, 2-story villa in the shape of an elephant which adds a touch of class to eco holidaying.

The eco resort also features two other chalets and all in all presents several well-appointed bathrooms and lounges among other features which create an unforgettable holiday for the whole family. The KumbukRiver concept has meticulously been conceived keeping with the ethos of responsible tourism.

The resort uses no electricity at present, and refuses to do so just to add to its theme providing an incredibly unique experience. The atmosphere that emerges nightly in the warm light of flickering oil lamps is an experience not to be missed for the sake of modern amenities, and probably recaptures life during the days of Sri Lankan kings. "Once you enter the resort property you are in a world of your own.

Lankan export produce on Emirates' inaugural flight to Amsterdam

Sri Lankan plants and fresh fish formed a substantial part of the cargo when Emirates' inaugural passenger flight to Amsterdam arrived in the Dutch capital on May 1.

Live plants in the form of rooted cuttings accounts for a significant component of Emirates SkyCargo's revenue out of Colombo, and as much as 80 per cent of the tonnage transported goes to Amsterdam.

The introduction of passenger flights between Dubai and Amsterdam will provide greater capacity to Sri Lankan exporters on a route previously serviced by Emirates with freighter aircraft.

'The launch of daily services to Amsterdam with afternoon arrivals will be welcomed by our customers,' said Damian Jayasuriya, Emirates Cargo Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives. 'Live Plants and Edible Fish from Sri Lanka have been part of our regular cargo to the Netherlands for many years, and the extra capacity and frequency will benefit producers and the economies of the Western and Wayamba Provinces and parts of the Central Province.' Emirates SkyCargo has been serving Amsterdam with freighters for 15 years and ships around 1,000 tonnes of flowers, principally from Kenya and Ethiopia, to the city each month. Monthly cargo capacity into the Dutch capital increases by more than 400 tonnes with the launch of daily passenger services.