Travel

Amaya Resorts goes for four star hotel in South

Shirajiv Sirimane in London

Friday - Amaya Resorts will go for a four star hotel in the South by the end of the year under a five-year management contract.

Financial Director Amaya Resorts, Nimal Perera said that they have already negotiated with the hotel to seal this deal.

"We have called upon the owner to refurbish the hotel and give it to us by the end of the year," he said. Amaya which already owns the four star Amaya Beach and five star Fortress will have 150 rooms after the take over.

He said that they have no plans to invest in a hotel outside Sri Lanka at present. "We are looking at more opportunities to manage," he said.

They have put on hold the five star hotel to be built in Mirissa. "The infrastructure has to improve for us to make this investment," he said.

Commenting on the recent agreement on the City Hotels Association to charge a minimum fee, he said that it was a timely move.

"Sri Lanka is the lowest selling destination in the region and a high price has to be offered.

"Tough monitoring is needed," he said.

SLT and Mobitel boost adventure tourism

Mobitel will sponsor Raid Amazon 2008, the world's biggest women's multi-sport adventure race in January 2008.

This is set to further promote the country as a tourist destination, catering to persons with a wide range of interests, especially for the sporty traveller, with the excitement of competition and sports alongside its nature, culture, adventure and the sea.

Over 200 women, making up teams of three, are set to participate in various events over six years in Dambulla. This ranges from biking, canoeing, jungle courses and other outdoor activities.

CEO, Mobitel, Suren Amarasekera said: "We are proud to be the communication provider for Raid Amazon 2008, which is being held in Sri Lanka for the second time since its launch in 2004.

We have joined hands with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board to support this event, as it will improve tourism in the country as well as showcase what a great destination the country is to the rest of the world.

There will be demonstrations of technology like never before with 3G services, which will give contestants the chance to upload photos and videos during the race as well as allow live web casting from the camp site and the start and finishing points."

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) will offer a total communications solution for the event.

Tropical Hotel Collection focuses on East Coast

The Tropical Hotel management team comprising consultants and directors with extensive hotel experience has decided to focus on building new hotels in Sri Lanka.

Having identified Passikudah for the first of their new hotel collection they will build two more in the Eastern province in Arugam bay and Pannichchankerni.

They have identified potential sites in the Matale and Digana hills for the next stage. The beach in Jaffna is the last identified.

"Our Chairman Prasanna W. Jayewardene who has pioneered much in Sri Lanka over four decades of hotelering believes that the country is the best in the world and so do we" said Amara Galagoda, General Manager. "We believe that the future holds much for Sri Lanka which will become a world player because of her people," Galagoda said.

These hotels will be small, green and oriented towards fun and health with Ayurvedha and health food with traditional ethnic flavour. A mini organic farm, training facility and handicraft centre to help the community will be a part of each project.

World travel industry committed to responsible tourism

LONDON, (Xinhua) - The World Travel Market (WTM) launched "World Responsible Tourism Day" in a joint industrial effort to make the world a more responsible place to live and travel.

The event marked an important day in the 28-year-long history of the WTM with a series of activities covering carbon offsetting, water, poverty reduction and destinations.

The first ever WTM World Responsible Tourism Day is a major global initiative in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and supported by leading associations such as the World Travel and Tourism Council and the Pacific Asian Tourism Association.

"There is no industry in the world better placed to embrace a day that highlights the importance of protecting environments, respecting local cultures, supporting local communities, conserving natural resources and minimising pollution," said WTM Chairperson Fiona Jeffery.