BUSINESS Travel

Lanka promotes sustainable tourism

Shirajiv Sirimanne in London

Sri Lanka is actively promoting sustainable tourism development and would continue the efforts in the future.

A presentation made by Sri Lanka at the Ministers’ summit of the World Travel Market (WTM) on sustainable tourism revealed. Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority represented the Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda at the event.

Sri Lanka has been leading in the promotion of sustainable tourism development and had taken key initiatives in environmental area, training and many other fields. Sri Lanka would continue this program in a more aggressive manner.

Wednesday marked an important day in the 28 years of WTM as it was the official launch date of the first ever WTM World Responsible Tourism Day, a major global initiative in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization and supported by leading associations such as the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Pacific Asian Tourism Association (PATA).

“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,” Chairman of World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery said.

“Responsible Tourism has been a focal point at WTM for over thirteen years. WTM World Responsible Tourism Day continues our reputation of acting as a catalyst for debate on all issues relating to responsible tourism,” Jeffery added.

“Britons are the hardiest and most terrorist resistant travellers in the world,” said Dr. Auliana Poon during World Travel Market at Excel London.

“We did an investigation into how the Japanese, Germans and Americans and British responded to terrorism.

Britain was always flexible with their travel advisories and did not enforce them for long unlike the Europe where there were adverse travel advisors against Sri Lanka early 2007,” Dr. Poon said.

“We did a study on the impact on tourism in the build up to the outbreak of the Gulf War. Six months before it started the Japanese and Americans stopped traveling.

Germans stopped traveling before five months while it took only three months for the British. After the war, within eight months everything was back to normal for the British travellers. The Germans took 11 months and the Americans took nearly two years,” Dr. Poon pointed out.

Central America Tourism Agency, stand number LA1200, won the Best Stand Design Award for their ‘cooperative approach’ and blending individuality with the variety of the countries in the region to achieve a highly effective integrated design.

The judges commended the stand’s creativity by using a common theme and local design and displaying local crafts and handmade goods.

Best Stand Feature Award went to Bosnia and Herzogovina Tourism Association, stand number EM375, for its two interactive ‘gerbil tread wheels’, enabling visitors to look at the sights whilst listening to a commentary on headphones.

For the Judges these stood out as the ‘most unusual and innovative feature’ at the event.

The wheels’ images also reflected key tourist activities being promoted in the region, creating an impact through capturing cultural characteristics.

Four stars for Chaaya

Chaaya Village Habarana received four star classification by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board recently.

Chaaya Village was also recently recognized and received international recognition by PATA for a Gold Award in the Eco Tourism Category.

All these outstanding achievements have been possible, because of the hard work, dedication and professionalism by the entire staff of the hotel says the proud CEO of Chaaya Hotels & Resorts Jayantissa Kehelpannala.

Chaaya Village is a very popular holiday destination by both the foreign and local tourist and therefore by maintaining high quality standards in food and beverage and service has been a key focus area.

Ceylonese Hopper Night today

If you missed out the first few times, then here’s your chance to try again. Trans Asia has given an opportunity to many to start their weekend on the right note!

There is no need to dress up, just come as you are, by driving down to the car park by the side of the hotel’s launderette, and avail yourself to what has become a very popular Ceylonese Hopper Night a simple yet tasty meal which could be enjoyed right there in the car park, or in a take away style.

Egg Hoppers, plain hoppers, katta sambol, chicken curry, fish ambul thiyal, pittu, kottu, curd and treacle, wattalapan, and fresh fruit, and even tingling arrack cocktail are yours to indulge in! Special attention has been given to Vegetarians, where a special spicy soya meat curry, mixed vegetable curry and seeni sambol is also included in the menu.

It’s family time where pure Sri Lankan favourites can be enjoyed in one night! Enjoy also the music of the calypso trio during the evening and the welcoming friendly service by our staff.