TRAVEL

Kalpitiya integrated tourism development project:

Master plan developed

The conceptual master plan for the Kalpitiya integrated tourism development project has been developed by EML Consultants. The Kalpitiya region is one of the most beautiful coastal areas located in the Western Province. 150 km north of Colombo. It is a peninsular that separates the Puttalam Lagoon from the Indian Ocean and is a marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangroves, swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches.

Kalpitiya Lagoon

A tourist

Given the investment opportunities available, in 2008 Sri Lanka Tourism launched the Kalpitiya Dutch Bay Resort Development Project. There are 14 islands in the proposed zone namely, Battalangunduwa (145.53 ha) Palliyawatta (60.89 ha), Vellai I (1.55ha) Vellai 11(10.80 ha), Vellai 111 (13.70ha), Uchchamunai (30ha) Ippantivu (76.88ha), Peria Archchalai (45.60ha) Sinna Arrichahal (2.22ha) Erimativu West (4.53ha) Sinna Erimativu (2.22ha) Kakativu (4.53 ha) Mutwal (Dutch Bay 715.14ha); Of these lands nine are owned by the state while the balance are owned by the state and the private sector.

Among the tourist attractions within the zone are Near Islands at Dutch Bay and Portugal Bay,bar reef marine sanctuary - 307 km of sea having most valuable rich bio-diversity value, sea turtles, fisheries, ornamental fish collections, lobster capturing, sea cucumber collections, dolphins, whales,mangroves,flora and fauna,historical monuments, birds and butterflies, natural botanical gardens, beaches, natural forest,estuaries and lagoons and sea grass beds.

Among the tourist attractions within 50 Km of the zone are Wilpattu Sanctuary, Historical Dutch Fort and Church, Anuradhapura - Ancient City and St. Anne's Church - Thalawila.

The proposed types of tourism for the development zone are fishing, deep sea diving, nature based tourism, beach tourism, sports and adventure tourism, agro tourism, culture tourism, village tourism and event tourism.

There will be investment opportunities for providing of luxury accommodation units to attract up-market tourists hotels, chalets, water bungalows, ayurvedic hotels, beach cabanas, sun huts, out door barbeque pits, open air performance areas, low cost accommodation units for budget travellers, domestic airport and travels, theme/amusement parks, underwater amusement park, cable car tours, high speed boat safaris, water sports, 18 hole golf course ,observation towers, camping sites, training schools - tourism and hotel management, diving, water sports, botanical gardens, agro and livestock farms, hot air balloons hospital, race course, cricket playground, travel and tour operators, handicrafts and souvenir shops, gem and jeweller shops, information and interpretation centres, museum, cultural, art and entertainment.

The standard of the present infrastructure facilities to the islands and to the proposed resort area are either at a very low level or in adequate. It is imperative that new facilities are to be developed to meet present day standards.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board will work hand in hand with the private sector and Government to provide the necessary facilities on a priority basis as the overall developments demands.

Among the infrastructure development needs are foot pathways, cycling routes, helipad, sea flight port, jetties, electricity, water, drainage, telecommunication, solid and liquid disposal systems, nature trails, roads and pedestrian pathways.

Special developments planned in the zone include domestic air port -Uchchamunai, under water amusement park kandakkuliya, golf course - Dutch Bay, Race Course - Kalpitiya and a Cricket Playground - Kalpitiya.

According to a spokesman of the SLTDA more than 37,500 employment opportunities will be provided at full commissioning of the project while many temporary opportunities will be created during the construction stage. Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments Study will be carried out at the inception of the project as a planning mechanism to avoid any restrictions on constructions at later stages and to obtain blanket approval for all the components of the overall development.

(SG)

SriLankan keeps its promise

SriLankan Airlines is keeping its promise to the country's tourism industry by expanding capacity throughout much of its route network starting this month in Europe, the Middle East, the Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Far East.

The Airline has already begun expanding its fleet, with seven more aircraft by the end of 2011. The first of these, a wide-body Airbus A330, arrived in July. Three more are planned by February 2011, including two Airbus A320s, plus a De Havilland Twin Otter Floatplane for the re-launch of the domestic service SriLankan Air Taxi.

The major expansion of capacity, which was first announced at the Airline's 31st anniversary celebrations last month, will commence with the Winter 2010/11 schedule which began on October 30 and runs through March 2011.

Head of Worldwide Sales, Mohamed Fazeel said: "SriLankan Airlines intends to be a major catalyst in the country's tourism boom, and as promised we are expanding our capacity, increasing frequencies, and widening our route network to support Sri Lanka's tourism industry.

These changes are being carried out after careful consideration of market opportunities, in keeping with the Government's plans for growth in tourism."

The Government this year repurchased the stake in the Airline that had been privatised in 1998, bringing its shareholding to 94.68 percent. The Airline's employees hold remainder shares.

"Our expansion will cater to most of the largest and most dynamic markets. These include traditional markets such as the UK, India, and the Maldives, plus emerging markets such as China, Malaysia and Singapore," said Fazeel.

SriLankan is also planning to add even more comfort and sophistication to its fleet next year by adding the latest luxurious flatbeds and AVOD entertainment systems (Audio-Video On Demand) in Business Class.

The most significant addition will be the launch of thrice weekly services to Guangzhou scheduled for January 28, the fourth city in China to be served by SriLankan. This would take the route network to 50 destinations in 31 countries.

In Europe, SriLankan will add its 13th weekly flight to London, with effect from December 15, flying twice daily on all days except Friday.

In India, where SriLankan serves six cities, there will be increases to Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Mumbai will have a total of 10 flights from December 1, up from the earlier daily frequency. Chennai will have one additional flight for a total of 15 flights, with three on Friday and two each on all other days from December 1. Bangalore will go to a daily frequency with the addition of one more flight from December 1.

From December 1, the number of flights to Male is being increased to six per day from the earlier 3-4 per day, further strengthening SriLankan's longstanding position as the largest carrier into the Maldives. Karachi will also have an added frequency, bringing it to four per week from December 1.

In Southeast Asia, both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur will have an added flight for a total of 11 flights each from December 1. The Middle East will witness significant changes throughout the region including the services to Bahrain, Muscat and Doha.