|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
SL Tourism and SriLankan Airlines launch packages for Indian tourists
|
|
Tuesday, 25 June, 2019, 15 : 00 PM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, Mumbai
|
In an effort to ramp up Indian outbound tourists visiting Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tourism, in collaboration with SriLankan Airlines, The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and inbound tour operators, has introduced attractive packages, specifically targeting India, the number one source market, to revive the industry that had a temporary setback due to the recent incident.
The five tour packages to Sri Lanka range from a combination of stays in Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla, Sigiriya and the South Coast, with multiple options to suit any budget. These offers will be valid for stays between June 10, 2019 and September 30, 2019, and can be availed through the travel agents network in India.
The packages offered include discounted airfare, accommodation, transport and more, ranging from 30 to 60 per cent. It is unique to India and can be availed across SriLankan Airlines’ network, covering 12 cities in India with 123 weekly flights.
Chamari Rodrigo, consul general, Sri Lanka, and a delegation representing the island nation, headed by tourism, wildlife and Christian religious affairs minister John Amaratunga, attended the event.
The minister spoke of the restored security environment in Sri Lanka and assured the audience that the incident will not reoccur. He also requested the media to support the efforts put forth by the Sri Lanka Tourism Board and key stakeholders of the industry, and thanked them for their extended support in the past, which has been instrumental in making India the number one source market for Sri Lanka.
Kishu Gomes, chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, described the brand and marketing communication strategy aimed at reviving the industry as well as the growth trajectory that Sri Lanka Tourism recorded. Furthermore, he requested Indian tourists to avail of the attractive packages while supporting the process of recovery as Sri Lanka’s most respected neighbour.
“India has been the number one source market to Sri Lanka over the past decade and in 2018 recorded over 4,00,000 visitors to the island. The national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, operates 123 weekly flights from key Indian cities, and we believe such offers are quick to popularise across Indian cities,” said Dimuthu Tennakoon, head of worldwide sales and distribution (HWSD), Sri Lankan Airlines.
Additionally, MasterCard, which has over 180 million Indian card-holders, has also come on board to promote the launched packages through their well-connected channels.
India has accounted for 18.2 per cent, which is 424,887 arrivals in 2018, an impeccable 10.5 per cent hike from last year. In 2017 itself, 3,83,000 Indians visited the destination. In 2018, this number increased to 4,26,000. Sri Lanka aims to progressively promote the destination for weddings and film shoots this year, with leisure being the primary focus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|