17 October 2008

Sri Lankaââ¬â¢s Rich Tourism Inventory Highlighted at Seminar

An air agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia was signed last year and ââ¬Åâœwe want to again establish connectivityââ¬~. 

"We are looking at the possibility of flights and want to encourage the two relevant national carriers to implement services," said the Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister, Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka during a Sri Lanka Trade, Investment and Tourism Promotion Seminar organised in Sydney earlier this week.

The career diplomat and a delegation of professionals from a variety of business segments visited Australia during a whirlwind promotional tour of Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

In his introductory address, the minister said that the prospects for growth in collaboration with Australia are enormous.  Sri Lanka has experienced 6 per cent economic growth over the last five years.

Citing ââ¬Åâœa long relationship with Australiaââ¬~ he went on to say that the country has been ââ¬Åâœtransformed from a rural economy into an industrial baseââ¬~.

[Pictured] Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister, Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka intends to encourage both governments to re-establish much needed air services.

During his time in Canberra Mr Bogollagama said he had talks with relevant authorities about establishing air services.

Direct air links would benefit the 150,000 Sri Lankans living in Australia as well as the 5,000 students in the country. 

In addition it would boost the number of Australian and Sri Lankan tourists visiting the respective countries, he added.

There were 20,241 tourist arrivals from Australia to Sri Lanka in 2007 out of a near 600,000 world total.  Australia is the fifth largest tourist market for the country.

Currently under construction in the south of the country, a $100 million international airport is expected to further boost tourist arrivals.

Sri Lanka born, Australia resident, Stefan Dââ¬â¢ Silva, author and specialist tour operator, addressed the Sydney gathering with a fact filled illustrated presentation about the tourist potential of the island nation.

Almost the same size as Tasmania, Sri Lanka has seven World Heritage Sites, he said. 

Sri Lanka is the perfect niche tourist destination as the country can well cater to special interests from trains through tea plantations, golfing on century old courses to boutique hotels like those inside Galle Fort and ââ¬Åâœan absolute diversity of wildlifeââ¬~.

Though Sri Lanka has nearly 475 species of birds, bird watching as well as whale watching are areas that have not been tapped by tour operators.

As well, few tour operators know that dolphins frequent the warm tropical waters of Sri Lanka in January and February. 

Wildlife abounds in Yala National Park, ââ¬Åâœone of the best places to see leopardââ¬~.

The park also has elephant, sloth bear, crocodiles, three types of deer and unusual monkey species like the Toque Monkey.

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMoleââ¬â¢s Travel and Lifestyle Editor

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