APT trebles tours to Sri Lanka

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Tours operator APT has announced it will offer three times as many tours to Sri Lanka in 2020-21 just days after the Foreign Office lifted its travel ban to the Indian Ocean island.

The company said it will offer 12 departures of its Spirit of Sri Lanka tour, up from four the previous season.

It said the increase demonstrated its commitment to tourism for the country despite the Easter Sunday terror attacks in which more than 250 people died, including eight Britons.

Guest bookings the 16-day luxury small group trip before end of August will quality for free economy flights.

The tour crosses Sri Lanka from Negombo to Colombo via the tea country hills of Nuwara Eliya and south to the Yala National Park.

MD of APT UK & Europe Paul Melinis said: “Introducing extra dates to our Sri Lanka programme made sense, the destination has been on many people’s bucket list for 2019 and we anticipate this trend is set to continue, despite recent events.

“With the recent change in the FCO’s advice, a commitment from suppliers in the region and with the safety and security that comes with an escorted tour, we are confident that many will continue to book holidays to this incredible country that has so much to offer.”

The Shangri-La hotel in Colombo, one of three hotels to be bombed on Easter Sunday, will re-open this week.