No EXIT Visa required for Chinese to visit Sri Lanka

Inline with the recent international relationship developments in the country Sri Lankan government & Chinese Government has strengthen corporate relationships in various ways with lots of investments in so many fields. As a result of this From 4^th July 2012 onwards Chinese authorities will consider Sri Lanka ETA  (electronic Travel Authorization) System reference as the Exit Visa for Chinese Traveler to Sri Lanka which can be obtained on line in few seconds. www.eta.gov.lk , Chinese traveler will not need to obtain Exit visa to travel to Sri Lanka, China outbound tour market is one of the biggest with fast growing pattern. Veterans estimated that the total number of outbound tourists from China will reach 100 million by 2020.

 

ETA is the newly introduced online visa processing system in Sri Lanka which is available in 08 languages including Chinese language.

 

By Dhanushka Wijeyekoon

Assistant Marketing Manager - Tours

NKAR Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd

Sri Lanka.

 

 

Air Arabia Increases Flights to Colombo

Air Arabia now offers nine weekly flights to Sharjah from Colombo.

Air Arabia, the first and largest low cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa announced recently that the airline has increased the frequency of flights from Colombo to UAE to nine flights a week.

 

Air Arabia offers unique services at affordable and competitive prices and provides value for money. The company is renowned for its on time performance and also extends land arrangements and visa assistance services from any of its destinations across the airline's network.

 

 

By Dhanushka Wijeyekoon

Assistant Marketing Manager - Tours

NKAR Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd

Sri Lanka.

 

Sri Lanka's first luxury yacht charter service announced

CeySail Cruises (Pvt.) Ltd. announced the launching of Sri Lanka’s first luxury yacht charter service recently.

The company, which is a joint venture between Netherlands-based Orange Green Eco Pvt. Ltd. and the Sri Lankan CeyLine Group of Companies, now offers luxury catamaran and mono-hull yachts for single and multi-day charters within Sri Lankan waters.

CeySails fleet of three yachts (one catamaran and two Macgregor 26 mono-hulls) can be utilized for fishing trips, diving expeditions and whale and dolphin watching, with clientele being offered the option of fully customizing their trip.

 

By Dhanushka Wijeyekoon

Assistant Marketing Manager - Tours

NKAR Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd

Sri Lanka.

 

Thai-Sri Lanka tighten cooperation on tourism and investment

Thailand and Sri Lanka have recently agreed to increase cooperation on three issues concerning investment, tourism, and multilateral relationships.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with Sri Lankan President His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa on the occasion of his visit to Thailand to attend the Visakha Bucha Day celebrations.

Both leaders have discussed cooperation on three aspects, including (1) increasing trade and investments between the two nations, (2) promoting more cultural tourism in a form of combined destinations, and (3) strengthening regional cooperation. The details will be further discussed by a joint Thai-Sri Lankan committee consisting of foreign Ministers of both nations as representatives.

The Sri Lankan President also offered to improve cooperation in jewelry industry, security, technological exchange, and the empowering women and children. He is glad that both nations’ citizens have developed a closer relationship; he is also happy to see Air Asia opening up routes connecting Thailand and Sri Lanka.

 

By

Dhanushka Wijeyekoon

Assistant Marketing Manager - Tours

NKAR Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd

Sri Lanka.

SriLankan Airlines joins Prestigious ONEWORLD Alliance

SriLankan Airline's election as a ONEWORLD member designate was announced at a meeting of the Alliance's Board on the sidelines of the IATA 2012 World Air Transport Summit which open in Beijing.

 

A statement from SriLankan said the airline is expected to be ushered into the ONEWORLD alliance late next year, flying alongside some of the biggest and best brands in the airline business. Cathay Pacific will serve as its sponsor airline in joining ONEWORLD, supporting SriLankan through its alliance implementation programe.

 

ONEWORLD enables its members to offer  their customers more services and benefits than any other airline can provide on its own. These include a broader route network opportunities to earn and redeem frequent  flyer miles and points across the combined network  and offers more alliance fares than any of its competitors, the statement said.

 

ONEWORLD brings together some of the biggest and best  names in the airline business - American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finair, Iberia, Japan airlines, LAN, Qantas, airberlin, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airline. Malaysian Airlines and Kingfisher Airlines are also members elect.

 

ONEWORLD is the current holder of more international awards for airline alliance than any of its competitors - named best airline alliance by Global Traveller in its GT Tested Reader Survey 2011 Awards for the second year running, the World's  leading Airline Alliance in 2011 World travel awards for the 9th year running and the Best Airline Alliance 2011 in Australian Business Traveler’s debut awards.

 

 

By Dhanushka Wijeyekoon

Assistant Marketing Manager – Tours
NKAR Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd

10th SLCB MICE Professional development progrem

10th SLCB MICE Professional Development Program organized by Sri Lanka Convention Bureau held on June 2012 at Club Dolpin Hotel Wikkal.

More than 50 participants took part in the program from the different stakeholder parties in the MICE Industry in Sri Lank. The comprehensive program conducted by MICE industry professionals from all over the world during 3 days contained almost all the aspects of MICE in terms of Global MICE tourism. Sri Lanka Convention Bureau organized this program for the consecutive 10 year.

Participants has given an opportunity not only to learn about Professional MICE but also to build & expand the professional network which is very crucial & important when you compete in an emerging global industry.
 
Shalindra Henagamage (Manager Web promotions) & Dhanushka Wijeyekoon (Assistant Marketing Manager – DMC Tours) from NKAR Travels & Tours took part in the program & Successfully completed the program.