Indigenous medical treatment for tourists hits new high

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The hotel sector has recorded a remarkable growth with occupancy rates exceeding 70 percent in many properties across the country. Growth in the leisure sector has been spurred by the peaceful environment in the country and the diverse attractions in properties which have been given a complete facelift to woo the discerning traveller.

Several hotels and resorts have been refurbished and re-branded with colossal investment to cater to the diverse needs of a fast expanding market.

Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort in Wadduwa refurbished with an investment of Rs. 200 m provides visitors a unique holiday experience in a harmonious setting with Ayurvedic cuisine and therapy to rejuvenate the mind and body.

The resort now comprises comfortable and well appointed rooms with architectural designs depicting the ancient culture and heritage of Sri Lanka.

Located along the South Western Coastal Belt in Wadduwa the resort provides a breathtaking view of the sparkling blue waters of the Indian Ocean. The resort has an array of indigenous and South Asian medicinal plants.

Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort Managing Director, Asoka Hettigoda said the occupancy rate is over 80 percent and added that there will be full occupancy by the end of the year.

Hoteliers said that occupancy has increased sharply this year due to the promotional campaigns which has paid well for tourism in Sri Lanka.

Hettigoda said with the constructon of luxury resorts and additional rooms, the tourism industry will meet the target of 2.5 m visitors by 2016.

The tourism industry is in need of around 40,000 hotel rooms to cater to the influx of tourists. Hotels in the Kalpitiya and Pasikudah tourism development zones will add to the number of rooms needed to meet the target envisaged during the next five years.

The Siddhalepa Ayurveda Resort is a pioneer in providing indigenous medicinal treatment to guests who prefer native treatment as against Western medicine.

The hotel is patronised by a large number of Westerners who are getting accustomed to Eastern medicine offered in hotels in Asia.

The 50-room Resort in Wadduwa was re-opened in July with new features added to the facility. All rooms were upgraded into four star to facilitate market trends. Equipped with modern amenities, the rooms include a private balcony or terrace. Offering unique experiences each room is designed with a distinctive Sri Lankan theme.

The Ayurveda Resort set up in 1999 was the brainchild of Dr. Victor Hettigoda, Chairman of the Hettigoda Group of Companies which is synonymous with ayurveda treatment. Hettigoda said the spacious accommodation units are well appointed to suit star class hotel standards.

Hettigoda said common facilities such as the pool was retiled and a new Jacuzzi was built by the side of the pool. The lobby was extended to provide more space for visitors to move freely.

"A new restaurant was built to cater to international cuisine.

Tourists enjoying a dip in the pool of the Ayurveda Resort.

Ayurveda facilities were upgraded with more capacity to handle 30 clients at a time with additional treatment rooms, herbal baths and consultation rooms", he said.

The Ayurveda Health Centre in the Resort offers consultation and treatment by a qualified Ayurveda doctor.

Visits are accompanied to the Ayurveda Factory - Hettigoda Inductries (Pvt) Ltd where all products are exclusively manufactured.

According to Sri Lanka Tourism data, the number of arrivals rose 27.2 percent in September from a year earlier and continuing to rise every month on a year-on-year basis since May 2009. Visitors in September totalled 60,219 and arrivals for the first nine months this year rose 34.3 percent from the corresponding period last year to 598,006. Sri Lanka has forecast 20 percent growth in visitor arrivals this year to more than 780,000 tourists.

Tourism revenue which jumped 64.8 percent last year to record $ 575 m rose 49 percent during the first eight months this year from a year earlier to $ 521 million.