Sri Lanka looks to grant visa free entry to tourist friendly nations

COLOMBO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a task force to study the possibility of granting visa free entry to visitors from certain tourist friendly nations in order to boost arrivals to the island country, local media reported on Monday.

Sri Lankan Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said that some of the countries under consideration are India, China, and some European and West Asian countries.

Amaratunga said this proposal was aimed at encouraging more people to visit Sri Lanka and avoid the "chaos" at the immigration.

Following recommendations from the Task Force, this proposal may be implemented in the off peak months of October to November and March to April, the minister said.

He further said the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is currently working on this plan.

Additionally, in order to boost arrivals, the minister said the government was also in discussion with airlines, tour operators and hotels to provide low cost packages during the off peak months.

"These efforts are underway to ensure Sri Lanka becomes a destination that would be a visited location throughout the year," Amaratunga said.

Sri Lanka's tourism industry, which was once heavily scarred by a 30-year civil conflict, has become one of the leading industries of the country. Tourist arrivals have recorded a growth of 15.3 percent during the first half of 2018 compared with the same period last year, recent statistics from the Tourism Ministry showed.

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Sri Lanka ranked among top 5 fastest tourism growing markets by GlobalData

COLOMBO, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has been ranked as the fourth fastest growing tourism market in the world by GlobalData, a London-based digital analysis company, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said in a statement Monday. 

GlobalData's Tourism Potential Index provides a ranking of 60 major developed and emerging markets around the world to assess potential growth opportunities in the tourism sector. 

Iceland, Japan, Hungary, Sri Lanka and Chile have been listed as the top five fastest growing tourism markets in the world for the period between 2017 and 2021, the GlobalData index showed. 

The list is compiled using a ranking based on forecast average annual growth in international arrivals, and the forecasts are based on factors such as capital investment, GDP and disposable income in main source markets. 

Sri Lanka, which came the fourth on the list, has obtained a score of 52.8 while achieving a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.7 percent. 

The score of Iceland, which topped the list, stands at 39.1 with a CAGR of 11.7 percent.

GlobalData has also assigned star ratings to each of the 60 nations surveyed, ranking them in terms of tourism potential from very low to very high. 

The star rating is based on four elements of potential: significance, competitiveness, attractiveness and convenience to give an overall percentage score out of 100. 

No country achieved a five-star rating this year, an accolade awarded to Singapore and Switzerland last year, which were both said to have "very high potential" with few barriers to expansion or demand. 

Sri Lanka is the only four-star rated country in the top 10. 

GlobalData says Sri Lanka is "expected to experience fast growth in the future".

It also said Sri Lanka is "investment-friendly and has improved its road and air infrastructure significantly". 

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Survey finds Indian, Western tourists in Sri Lanka satisfied with hotel stays

ECONOMYNEXT- Most Indian and Western tourists visiting Sri Lanka are satisfied with their stays in hotels, according to the latest airport survey done by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

Of the over 1,000 tourists who answered questions in the survey, 63 percent had stayed in hotels. Another 16 percent stayed in guest houses, and 8 percent stayed in boutique hotels.

The highest number of respondents in the survey were from India, Germany, UK, Australia and Russia, aged between 20-29 and were male.

Around 60 percent of the tourists thought that the quality of rooms in Sri Lanka were excellent or very good, and only 9 percent of them had rated the rooms poor.

Fifty-six percent of the tourists rated the quality of food highly, while 11 percent thought the opposite. There was a nearly identical split in opinion over the quality of service.

The survey was done through two touch screens at self-service kiosks at the Katunayake Airport. (COLOMBO, July 12, 2018)

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China offers more facilities to draw Sri Lankan tourists

China is offering more facilities to draw Sri Lankan tourists, China’s state owned Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

Chief of Consular Department of Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, Wang Keqi briefed local travel agents on the different visa procedures in order to facilitate more tourists to visit China.

According to statistics available at the Chinese Tourism Academy, over 60,000 Sri Lankans visited China in 2016.

A forum was held in Colombo on Saturday to introduce to Sri Lankan travelers tourism services and attractive destinations in China.

In a forum conducted for Sri Lanka’s leading travel agents, organized jointly by China’s national air carrier Air China and the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka, Air China said it hoped to provide better services for its travelers between Colombo and Chinese cities in order to increase the number of Sri Lankan tourists.

Some of these facilities include enhanced leg space in all its air buses, more localized Sri Lankan meals and luxurious facilities for its business class travelers.

Emily Liu, General Manager of Air China, Colombo Office, addressing the forum said that since Air China entered the Sri Lankan market three years ago, traffic between Colombo and Chinese cities had increased due to the airline’s promotions and services.

However she said many parts of China still remained unexplored for Sri Lankan tourists and they hoped to increase the numbers.

“We hope to introduce Sri Lankan travel agents to other destinations other than Beijing and Shanghai so that they can promote it among Sri Lankan tourists.

China is today one of the largest economies in the world, which has a rich heritage and a history dating back to many centuries. With its modernized culture in recent years, it has a lot to offer for Sri Lankan tourists and traders,” Liu said. (Colombo Gazette)

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Boat Show and Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018

Sri Lanka Online Visa

Boat Show & Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 is organized by Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute (BTI) and Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in association with Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Ministry of Ports and Shipping at Galle Yacht Marina, Port of Galle.

To provide a single platform for all related business sectors involved directly and indirectly in the boat and ship building industry and nautical tourism sector to display and promote their respective sectors for potential international and local clients and giving initiation for the leisure boating culture to the Sri Lanka.

South Asia’s most focused and largest international Boat Show and Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 will be held from 26th to 28th October 2018 at the Galle Yacht Marina of the Port of Galle. This event will be the first ever marine festival in Sri Lanka organized to show case the country’s capabilities in recreational boating and yachting, nautical tourism, boat building and related services for export and local markets. To attract the younger age groups towards boating, in addition to the boat and ship building sector, water sports events geared to the younger generation including wake boarding, water skiing, jet ski racing, wind surfing, catamaran and dinghy racing, try a boat event run by sailing clubs, fashion show linked to a nautical theme, fishing events and demonstrations, music (various bands), F and B court, classic car rally and display, Sri Lanka cultural display especially those linked to the sea, events for school children, nautical tourism, ocean academy, Sun & Sand Festival etc. will be added. Following the success of Boat Show Sri Lanka 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, & 2016 the upcoming boating festival will attract large number of buyers and visitors, boating enthusiasts, and industry professionals from countries such as India, Singapore, Seychelles, Maldives, South Korea, Belgium, Middle East, Germany, Holland, UK etc.

The Boat Show and Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 will be organized by Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Lanka (gte) Limited (BTI) and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in association with Ministry of Development Strategies & International Trade, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Ports and Shipping (Sri Lanka Ports Authority).

The Boat Show & Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 will be organized at Galle Yacht Marina, Port of Galle from 26th to 28th October 2018, with the objective of providing a single platform for all related business sectors involved directly and indirectly in the boat and ship building industry and fisheries sector to display and promote their respective sectors for potential clients. The total number of stalls in this year is around 80.

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Take Flights to Sri Lanka and Enjoy Outstanding Summer in Trendy Beaches!

Looking for tropical paradise for beautiful and memorable holidays? There can be no other better place than Sri Lanka to escape you from your hurly-burly routine state of affairs. If you need some time for yourself and for your family to give yourself and your family a break from the increasing stress! Then plan your itinerary, book your flights for Sri Lanka by Lankan Airlines or other Airlines traveling to Sri Lanka from different countries, and give your holidaying spree a new boost. This Country is never out of season for beach holidays as it is blessed with all the ingredients for a perfect sun and sandy holidays. This can be called as an island because it is surrounded by over one thousand kilometers of endless golden sand beaches decorated with palm trees. Whether you like sun-bathing, swimming, surfing, diving or a deeper water experience on your beach holiday with a mix of relaxation, spa, privacy, seclusion, adventure, fun, excitement and an opportunity to truly mix with the culture of the country and it has it all to offer you. Make your Sri Lanka visa and book your flight tickets to Sri Lanka and enjoy your ride in an outstanding manner. Your flights after reaching Sri Lanka will give you the opportunity to enjoy some water sports like; skiing, parasailing, Whitewater River rafting or windsurfing at exotic beaches of this tea drop shaped Island. 

West Coast Beaches of Sri Lanka: The area stretching itself from south of Colombo towards the Galle which is known as west coast. The most sorts out destination of West Coast takers in Sri Lanka is Bentota. Beautiful, wide and sandy beaches can be found in Bentota. Other West Coast beaches are also present which is very popular among tourists. These include; the beaches like Waikkala, Marawila, Seeduwa and Uswetakeiyawa. These are the best places to enjoy water sports or picnic, or simply sun bath with your family.

Down South Beaches of Sri Lanka: These beaches are popular among budget travelers Hikkaduwa and back packers which are most famous beach areas. It is best for sea adventures and scuba diving. The Ahungalla beach in Sri Lanka is famous for deep sea fishing, Unawatuna for surfing and sea food, Ambalangoda Beach for ecological environment of Mangroves and Mirissa is known among Sri Lanka flights takers for it relaxing, calm and small rocking beach.
North West Beaches of Sri Lanka: In these last series of beaches the visitors may go for after taking flights to Sri Lanka from United Kingdom which is North West Beaches. These include; Negambo: a major fishing town, Marawila: beach with number of Catholic Churches, Chilaw: a calm and quite beach relating to Portuguese, Puttalam: having arid fishing settlement and country second largest water pool, Mannar: having fort, fishing, and sea as major attractions and Kalpitiya: with an Old Dutch fort.

With my Sri Lanka tourist visa I have plan of taking Sri Lanka flights this year and celebrate my summer vacations at its trendy beaches.

Unforgettable Holidays Spend in Sri Lanka Resorts

 Have you ever marked the Sri Lanka in world map? How does the country look like? If you will see in the map then it will look like tear drop. Yes it looks like a tear drop of India. But actually what it is after visiting the country then only we can know.  Sri Lanka is a beautiful and delightful island just off the southern coast of India. Known for its clean, pure white sand beaches, lovely weather, and beautiful flora, all this makes Sri Lanka a charming island which is a wonderful vacation destination. Sri Lanka resorts are varied, grand and luxurious, providing an ideal vacation experience. Sri Lanka resorts are famous around the worldwide because their resorts offers access to some of the greatest draws of the island, which include top-notch golf courses, delicious sea food restaurants, tennis courts and cheap shopping centers. Water sports abound, and you will be happy on the beach whether you choose to club and sunbathe, or to swim, snorkel, windsurf, wakeboard or water ski. Visit one of the beautiful lagoons, and you will agree that you have stumbled upon a true island paradise. For some, a tour of the royal cities in Sri Lanka can be great addition. Go for the Sri Lanka Visa and enjoy all these experience in your life. Now in this monsoon it is better to visit. 

Many more things are there to explain let’s go ahead:
 

Other island for tourist attraction includes ancient ruins, often filled with the remains of ancient Buddhist dagobas, and beautiful Adam's Peak near to sea side. Enjoy a hike up the 7,297 feat mountains through which some of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable, which is also examined to be one of the world's most holy mountains. Visit the city Kandy in Sri Lanka to experience two very well-known pilgrimage sites: the Temple of the Tooth, which is one of the country's most oldest holy sites, and Bahirawakanda Temple, which houses a huge, imposing the statue of Buddha. For night life, the capital city Colombo is enough to be visit. This city is busy and very active, Colombo boasts many night clubs, plenty of shopping markets, restaurants. There truly is something different for everyone on this gorgeous island paradise. Tourist most of the time likes to visit in Monsoon time. The view is something different which can't be explains in single line. Al views are just wow!!
 

So what are you waiting for? Just go and book your ticket for Sri Lanka. At last but not the least we always use to memorize you not to forget to make your Sri Lanka visa.  Sri Lankan visa is very important.