Archives

Travel

PATA Congress for Colombo in 2007?

by Shirajiv Sirimane

Sri Lanka will bid to host one of the biggest events in the tourism calendar, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) congress in Colombo in 2007.

This was disclosed by Hiran Cooray who is the only Sri Lankan ever to be elected to the nine member Executive body of the PATA in an interview with the 'Daily News.'

Mr. Cooray, who is also the Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels Ltd, said that since the image of the country has improved he was confident that Sri Lanka would get the green light to host this event. "Sri Lanka has hosted this event in the early 1980s", he said.

He said that there will be over 1500 delegates from over 40 countries attending this event and it will boost the image of Sri Lanka. "It will also bring in a lot of revenue to the country," he said.

He said it would cost around Rs. 60 million to host this four day event in Sri Lanka. "We will seek the government assistance and look for sponsors to raise this amount."

Mr. Cooray who is also the youngest member of the PATA executive Committee said that world famed personalities would be attending this event. "Former US President Bill Clinton was to have addressed the last PATA congress that was held in India. But due to security problems he did not make it."

Asked what benefits Sri Lanka will receive by him being elected to the PATA Mr. Cooray said that his election would be a good opportunity to network with world tourism leaders and rebuild the image of Sri Lanka with their assistance.

"There is a network of journalists attached to the PATA and through them I am hoping to promote Sri Lanka as a destination, for nature, culture and wellness tourism," he said.

He also said he is hoping to work closely with the Tourist Board as well as the Sri Lanka chapter of PATA and other Travel trade industry bodies.

Mr. Cooray also said that Eco tourism should be promoted in Sri Lanka. "Another area where Sri Lanka can do well is with the 'Wellness' sector. Presently there is a global trend towards herbal and Ayurveda treatment. We must exploit this situation," he said.

Mr. Cooray was of the opinion that the southern tourism debacle should not be repeated in the Northeast. "When the tourism started everybody was building hotels in the South and today the area has too many hotels. There had been no planning and today hoteliers are facing the consequences."

He cautioned that this should not be repeated in the Northeast. "Proper planning should be done and the Tourist Board must take a lead in this matter," he said.

Miss Tourism International pageant world finals 2002 - Eight tourist hotels, in the fray

Eight tourist hotels five and four star around Sri Lanka have committed to make the pageant a success to achieve the objectives by the organizers to promote tourism in Sri Lanka.

The 8 hotels carefully selected by the Organizing Committee are - DOLPHIN HOTEL, MAHAWELI REACH HOTEL, THE LODGE HABARANA, SINDBAD HOTEL, EDEN HOTEL, TAJ EXOTICA, BENTOTA BEACH HOTEL. The Host Hotel in Colombo is TRANS ASIA HOTEL.

HOTEL SIGIRIYA in Sigiriya and the LIGHT HOUSE HOTEL in Galle have also come in to carry out promotion and publicity in inviting the 60 International Beauty Queens to visit their hotels in order that the Beauty Queens will be able to see for themselves the tourist potential that can be offered in these areas. Seeing is believing and the HOTEL SIGIRIYA and the LIGHT HOUSE HOTEL is bound to achieve their objectives.

Each Host Hotel will have a glittering Mini Pageant - the contestants will be arriving in Sri Lanka to TRANS ASIA HOTEL on the 2nd and 3rd of September and leave Colombo Host Hotel to HOTEL DOLPHIN for the First Mini Pageant. The International Queens after participating in 7 other Host Hotels around Sri Lanka will revert to the Host Hotel in Colombo Trans Asia on the 30th of Septtember. They will stay in the Colombo Host Hotel till the 4th of October. The world finals at the BMICH will be on 4th of October, and the Beauty Queens will leave Sri Lanka to their respective homes on the 5th of October.

There are number of SUPPORTING SPONSORS who has chipped in to take full advantage of the mileage, promotion and publicity they would achieve in their participation as Supporting Sponsors for the Miss Tourism International Pageant. Few of them who were first to join as a Supporting Sponsors for the Miss Tourism International Pageant. Few of them who were first to join as a Supporting Sponsor are as follows:

NEWZEALAND MILK LANKA LTD. was the first International Company well established in Sri Lanka and has a very good reputation in their field to join hands with the Miss Tourism Pageant as a supporting sponsor.

The others who followed are:

RENELLE PVT LTD. - Manufacturers of fine jewellary well known and established in SRI LANKA.

THE EXCLUSIVE COSMETIC COMPANY to join hands as a supporting sponsor is JANET COSMETICS GROUP who is famous in Sri Lanka for their Herbal and Ayurvedic cosmetic range. They will be able to promote Int. Beauty Queens the special Herbal and Ayurvedic cosmetic at a presentation which will be arranged by the Executive Committee.

The other supporting sponsor is ABANS (Pvt) LTD a well established well known and reputed company in Sri Lanka specializing in number of products which includes LG, Mitsubishi, Haier well known consumer products. They are also the franchisees for McDonalds in Sri Lanka. They are known to have a full computerized service dept. for home appliances.

There are a number of Co-Sponsors who have been carefully selected by the Franchise Director and the Organizing Committee and one of them is ARENA who are famous in Sri Lanka and is a well known, established high fashion clothes store. All International Beauty Queens are expected to visit this store when they are in Sri Lanka. This also includes ABANS showrooms and McDONALDS.

At the present time the Organizing Committee is carefully evaluating new Supporting Sponsors and Co-Sponsors who have shown interest.

The Committee is very selective to have the best Supporting Sponsors and Co-Sponsors. To this end, at the back drop of each of the Mini Pageants in the 8 hotels and at the BMICH the names projected as Supporting Sponsors and Co-Sponsors have all been carefully selected and accepted to associate with the World Finals of the Miss Tourism International Pageant.

Jith Pieris the veteran in stage management will be responsible for the International Pageant at BMICH and the Local Pageant, Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Tourism.

ENTERTAINMENT UNLIMITED for nearly two decades who are associated with major events in Sri Lanka and is a household word will be responsible for the Stage Lighting, Sounds, Cat Walk for the 9 Mini Pageants and the Main Pageant at the BMICH. Entertainment Unlimited carried out this function in 1993 and 1996 when the Miss Tourism International Pageant was hosted in Sri Lanka by the Franchise Director Sebastian A. C. Perera.

The official photographer will be Jelan Wijayaratne of JONATHANS. Jonathans was the Official Photographer for the Miss Tourism Pageant in 1993 and 1996 as well.

All information in connection with the Pageant, Sponsors, Hotels, etc. can be obtained from the Miss Tourism Official Secretariat or the Franchise Director or and Chairman of the Organizing Committee on Tele. Number: 5763 69 and 574322 during working hours.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager