TRAVEL

SriLankan Air Taxi takes to the skies again

SriLankan Airlines will re-launch its domestic float plane service - SriLankan Air Taxi - commencing December in time for the winter tourist season.

SriLankan's Head of Worldwide Sales Mohamed Fazeel said " We will shortly be adding a new dimension to domestic travel, enabling travellers to reach most parts of the island within 40 minutes. International visitors arriving in Sri Lanka can go straight on to their destinations with convenient connections."

SriLankan is planning to acquire two Twin Otter aircraft for the operation, each with a capacity of up to 15 passengers.

These twin-engined aircraft are currently being sourced. "SriLankan Air Taxi will supplement the country's existing land-based domestic air services, as there are many parts of the country in which aerodromes are not conveniently located, but there are plenty of rivers and lakes that can serve as waterdromes.

We have studied the market and there is definitely a demand for a rapid and convenient service among both tourists and Sri Lankans - from individuals and families to corporate groups," said Fazeel. Air Taxi operated for three years until operations were suspended in June 2007 at the height of the island's conflict due to necessary security restrictions on domestic flying. It operated 3,000 flights and carried more than 17,000 passengers.

The airline's plans include operating out of the city of Colombo, which would provide greater convenience for city dwellers than spending up to an hour and a half by road to reach either of the airports near the city - Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake and Colombo Airport in Ratmalana. "Every country needs a good domestic flying service.

We believe this would definitely strengthen the country's tourism industry and draw more high-end

travellers to the island. Air Taxi will give travellers the option of turning a 6-hour road trip into a 40-minute flight. This means you reach

your destination fresh and smiling, rather than hot and bothered," said Fazeel.

Waterdromes that Air Taxi is likely to operate from include Colombo's Beira Lake, the Negombo Lagoon, Castlereagh, Tissamaharama and Arugam Bay. It would also operate to the many locations that were earlier used - Kandy, Bentota, Nuwara Eliya, Galle (Koggala), Ampara, Trincomalee, Dambulla and Dickwella.

"Air Taxi is extremely flexible, so anyone can book flights to wherever they want to go. We are also planning daily flights which would cover several destinations, as well as special air tours such as scenic tours, charter flights, cultural and sports events," said Fazeel.

The low-flying aircraft would also provide a panoramic view of the island's palm-fringed golden beaches, lush tropical forests, gushing waterfalls, and mist-swathed mountains.

Taj Hotels SL re-branded

by Sapumali GALAGODA

Taj Hotels in Sri Lanka were re-branded last week to synergise core competencies and to provide a uniform service, ambience and experience at all 61 Taj Hotels located in India, Maldives, Malaysia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East.

"Two of our existing hotels in Sri Lanka will migrate to the new brands" said the Managing Director and CEO of Indian Hotels Company Ltd, Raymond Bickson.

Taj Exotica in Bentota will be Vivanta by Taj - Bentota, Sri Lanka and the Airport Garden Hotel, Gateway Hotel - Airport Garden Seeduwa from January 2011. Bickson said that they are positively thinking of investing in the North and the East regions due to the peaceful situation which has seen a growth in tourist arrivals.

Vivanta by Taj is a 5 star hospitality brand positioned in the upper-segment and currently comprises 19 hotels in India and the Indian Ocean region.

The Gateway Hotel is divided into 7 categories Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces was incorporated by the founder of the TATA Group Jamsetji N. Tata. The company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903.

Abu Dhabi Premier Partner of WTM up to 2012

Abu Dhabi has signed a three-year-deal to be the Premier Partner of World Travel Market(WTM), the global event for the travel industry, up to and including WTM 2012.

Abu Dhabi plans to use its partner status to promote its expanding leisure travel proposition, which includes this October's opening of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world's first Ferrari Theme Park. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opens on October 28, 2010, less than two weeks before WTM 2010 opens on November 8, making the travel industry's premier global event key in the promotion of the park's exciting and unique attractions.

WTM, which celebrated its 30th event last year, attracts more than 46,000 participants to London every year to negotiate deals and discover the latest trends and opinions.

WTM 2009 generated more than £1,139 million deals for its 5,121 exhibitors.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (FWAD) has more than 20 rides lying beneath its iconic 200,000 m2 Ferrari red roof including the world's fastest roller coaster - Formula Rossa, which powers to 240 kmph in less than five seconds, and the G-Force, a thrilling tower ride that will shoot thrill-seeker through the park's red roof 62 metres in the air and then back to earth experiencing the same G-force of a Ferrari.

GOH to invest Rs. 1 billion on expansion

The Grand Orient Hotel (GOH) will increase the number of rooms to 100 with an investment of around Rs. 1 billion said Chairman, GOH, Rohan Jayasinghe.

The hotel currently has 76 rooms. Jayasinghe said that the hotel will be expanded and refurbished under a development plan.

He said the hotel recorded an 80 percent occupancy rate in August which is a 30 percent increase compared to the same month in 2009.

Jayasinghe said the GOH is targeting a 100 percent hotel occupancy rate by the end of the year following an extensive promotional campaign of the luxury city hotel among leading markets.

The weekend street promotion is an attraction of the hotel which is patronised mostly by visitors from the Middle East, India, Japan and Malaysia.

LF

Ecotourism - the way forward - Chairman, ABTA

"A new strategy focusing on sustainable community-based ecotourism is the way forward for Arugam Bay, which is regarded as one of the top most surf points in the world and Sri Lanka's best surfing destinations," said Chairman of the Arugam Bay Tourism Association M. H. A. Raheem. He made this observation following discussions with several governmental and non-governmental organisations in the light of ongoing development efforts in the area.

The end of the conflict and the prevailing peaceful conditions have seen a surge in tourism in Arugam Bay during the past year.

Hotels recorded 100 percent occupancy in 2009, while the safe and viable opportunities for investment created with the dawn of peace have attracted new foreign investors to its shores. Measures are now under way to further develop Arugam Bay to cater to increasing demands, Raheem said. With a mission to improve tourism through community-based initiatives and sustainable development, the Arugam Bay Tourism Association would act as a main catalyst in this development process.

"What the Association is focusing on is to improve the standards of hoteliers and offer better services and facilities to the growing number of tourists," said Raheem.

A conscious effort will be made to ensure that development will take place in a planned and structured manner, thus protecting the uniqueness and natural beauty of Arugam Bay, stressed Raheem.

For instance, he noted, new infrastructure projects and buildings need to be planned and developed in accordance with the nature and environment of Arugam Bay, using local material and resources, conserving plant and wildlife and ensuring that its clean and healthy atmosphere is maintained.

Several projects have already been implemented to offer enhanced services to visitors. The first visitor centre for the area was set up in Pottuvil funded by the New East Coastal Community Development Project.

The USAID co-project has conducted a successful awareness program among local hoteliers, while guides were trained by Sri Lanka Tourism specialising in ecotourism and community-based tourism.

The association is also working closely with local authorities and other government organisations, including, ASMET, ICEI Overseas and UNDP.

The Arugam Bay Tourism Development Committee was established recently, subsequent to discussions with Dr. Sarath Weerasinghe, MP, Ampara District.

In ensuring greater community participation, the association will continue to maintain close ties with the community of Arugam Bay, which consists of a multi-ethnic group and foreign investors as well as other organisations.