|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 6 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Focus on religious tourist potential - Kadirgamar Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from Thailand Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kadirgamar said that religious tourist potential between Sri Lanka, Thailand and the other ASEAN countries has been under utilized. Speaking to the Daily News after the conclusion of the BIMST-EC summit here he said that this area has to be developed as there is tremendous potential. Both Sri Lanka and Thailand are Buddhist countries. Minister said Sri Lanka should do an aggressive campaign to woo Buddhist tourists from countries like Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia as they all share a common religion. He said that this area should be developed as it would boost the Lanka arrival figures. Most of the tourist arrivals from Thailand are on leisure tours and only 1209 Thai nationals have visited Sri Lanka on religious tours. The total arrivals from Thailand had been 5999 last year out of which 3995 had been on leisure. The first half of 2004 shows that only 1841 tourists have visited Sri Lanka so far. According to M. Suvina Managing Director of Business Inn a preferred hotel for Sri Lankan visitors, most of the Sri Lanka tourists visit Thailand for shopping. "For many Thailand is a destination for business and pleasure," she said. Thailand hotels allow outsiders to visit guest rooms and this has widened the pleasure market. She said that though there are many places of interest for Sri Lankan in the religious area very few find time to visit these places. Most of the Sri Lankans spend around three to four nights. A leading Travel agent said that most of the airlines offer night flights and this is a draw back. "People like to travel during day since it is less tiring and they also get the opportunity to see the country," he said. Thailand will also host the International Travel Show (ITS) in Bangkok from August 20 to 22 at Impact Verdana" Exhibition Center, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok and he said Sri Lanka needs events of this nature organized in Sri Lanka regularly. The first travel show of its kind in Thailand, ITS will be a one-stop shopping event for hundreds of Thai consumers and expatriates looking for holidays and tour packages within and outside Thailand. "Sri Lanka should get involved in this," he said. The revenue earned from Tourism in Thailand has been increased from 219,366 Bahr (One Bt Rs. 2.20) to 285,772 in 2002 and 309,269 last year. The project revenue for 2005 is 450,000 according to Thailand Tourism figures. The average expenditure per tourist per day has also been increased from Bt. 3,706 in 1996 to 3,774 last year and average stay of a tourist is around eight days. ############### 'Resort Sea Horse Palace' broadens its base in Negombo by Prasad Abu Bakr The Resort Sea Horse has invested Rupees one hundred million on a prime beach front property for the construction of `Sea Horse Residence'. The Dutch entrepreneur Jack Sholtman and his Sri Lankan counterpart Earl Fernando who were responsible in opening Resort Sea Horse Palace with just 12 rooms and expanded it to over 30 rooms just within two years have made this investment. The exclusive building site which is in progress at the moment, at Lewis Place, within Negombo's plush hotel resort overlooking the Indian Ocean on the western coast. "It was never our intention to go this far at the initial stage when I got my Dutch partner involved in the hotel project, Resort Sea Horse Palace" says Fernando who has been long in the hotel industry. The success of their initial plan to open a hotel and the subsequent good response they received from the Dutch travel market and the European market at large prompted them to decide upon this present project, said Fernando. It is designed for mostly expatriates and travellers intending to spend a little more time here than the usual tourists. The apartment block which consist of 15 apartments is due to be completed within the next few months to cater to the demand during next winter season. Each fully-furnished apartment consists of two bedrooms, pantry, living room and a specious verandah with parking facilities. The hotel already offers tourist beach front facilities for sun bathing. Resort Sea Horse Palace which has been in operation for sometime now has also expanded its number of rooms from 12 to 30 with additional facilities provided to the 20 chalets that have been introduced. These consist of in-built Jacuzzi, e-mail and internet facilities together with a private terrace surrounded by a high wall is situated at the back of each chalet. There is also a specious additional restaurant coming up overlooking the pool-site which already has dinning facilities at its lower deck. The new block of rooms and apartments that came into operation last season was booked well in advance even before the work was completed. The present project 'Sea Horse Residence' which is also a BOI project is ear marked to cater to a very up-market clientele said Fernando who also added that his partner, Sholtman - without whom these projects would not have come into operation - is the key promoter overseas for both projects. Jack Sholtman and his wife, regular visitors to Sri Lanka long before they got involved in partnership and business here are ardent admirers of this country and its people. They have many friends and are a part of Negombo's social circle. Today they are proud partners of Sri Lanka's travel industry owing to their faith in the friends they met during their many visits to the island. Earl Fernando, is extremely thankful and proud of the trust that has been bestowed upon him by his counterpart. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
