Sri Lanka Tourism is expected its resurgence in the upcoming winter season following the vigorous promotion campaign in Europe especially in France along with the revenue recovery in the hospitality industry during the past ten months, SL Tourism Development Authority sources revealed.
SLTDA top official disclosed that the tourism promotion drive in France gained momentum with the resumption of Air France resumed flights to Sri Lanka on Friday and will operate thrice weekly flights to the country.
Air France operations on this route are seasonal and as per the winter schedule for 2022-23.“TheAirline is to resume services between Colombo – Paris with thrice weekly flights and gradually increasing to five weekly operations during the winter schedule.
This is following its ambition to expand the Air France – KLM footprint in the Indian Sub-Continent. It will operate the Boeing 787- 9 Dreamliner on this route and look forward to welcoming customers to experience a modern onboard product and high quality services,” Claude SARRE, General Manager, Air France-KLM Indian Sub-Continent said.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s earnings from tourism during the period from January 2022 to October 2022 surpassed US$ 1 billion mark, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) announced.
In October 2022, tourism earnings stood at $75.6 million in comparison to $ 54 million in September 2022.
In September 2022, Sri Lanka recorded a total of 29,802 tourist arrivals, with India, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany remaining the main source countries for tourist arrivals.
The official reserve assets of Sri Lanka at the end of October 2022 were at $ 1,704million , the CBSL said further.
This is a decrease of 4.2% from the official reserve assets figure of $ 1,779 million in September 2022.
In accordance with the tourism promotion campaign, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France successfully conducted a Sri Lanka tourism promotion awareness event on 04 October from 7.00 pm to 9.00pm in Paris organized by PONANT, a French cruise ship operating company and tour operator in France.
The company was founded in 1988 and operates tourism cruise ships under the French flag. The PONANT operates its tourism cruises to almost all regions in the World such as Africa, Middle East & Indian Ocean, Alaska, Antarctica, Asia, Atlantic Coast, Caribbean, Central America, North America, Northern Europe & Scandinavia, Ocean Voyages, Oceania & Pacific Islands, Red Sea, South America, The Arctic, the Mediterranean and Transatlantic.
The PONANT promotes Sri Lanka as a one of their destination in ASIA and this event was organized on the side lines of their proposed cruise journeys to Sri Lanka (Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee) in December 2022 and January 2023.
At the event, a detailed brief on Sri Lanka tourism was delivered in the French language. The presentation included Sri Lanka tourist attractions, bio diversity, wild, culture, authentic foods, festivals, tourism niche segments such as wedding tourism, international connectivity and domestic connectivity etc.
After the presentation, a cocktail event was organized where authentic Sri Lankan food such as Konda Kevum, Kokis, Paniwalalu, Mun Kevum and Sesame Rolls and Sri Lankan finger foods such as Patties, Rolls, Cutlets and Sandwiches were served to the invitees.
