Travel & Tourism Archives

August 12, 2017

Digital Travel Sales – Trends : Increased appetites for leisure travel among middle-class consumers in China will drive this grow along with India, Indonesia and Vietnam. IATA confirms that this Top Asia Pacific Players will add a tally of 1.39 billion new passengers to Asia Pacific Region by 2035.

The Marketing experts estimated worldwide digital travel sales—which include leisure and unmanaged business travel sales booked via any device—will rise 11.5% in 2017 to nearly $629.81 billion. According to the latest statistics in 2016 it has reached $564.87 billion according to the © Statista 2017 statistics. Also Statista has predicted Double-digit growth in emerging markets, particularly those in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, will help fuel gains throughout the forecast period, as explored in a new Market reports.

Travel

This timeline shows the online travel sales worldwide from 2014 to 2020. In 2016, global online travel sales totaled 564.87 billion U.S. dollars. This figure is projected to grow to 755.94 billion U.S. dollars in 2019.

North America was the world’s largest market for digital travel sales in 2016. But in 2017, the researchers expect Asia-Pacific will claim this title, one year earlier than previously estimated. Faster expansion of digital travel commerce in China will primarily drive this gain.

Business News Travel

This timeline shows the share of global online travel sales, by region from 2014 to 2020. In 2015, North America accounted for 35.8 percent of the total global online travel sales. This figure was projected to drop to 28.9 percent by 2019. The Year 2017 is going to be a significant year, because the trend is going to change from the 2017.

Stronger-than-expected sales gains in Asia-Pacific have also led researchers to raise its growth estimates for worldwide digital travel sales for each year of the forecast period. According to © Statista 2017 statistics Asia Pacific sales will account for 34.3% by end of 2017 to become the world’s largest market for digital travel sales.

Sri Lanka Travel

Furthermore, low oil prices, which are helping to keep fuel costs down, have allowed airlines to pass along savings to consumers in the form of cheaper airfares. This has resulted in increased demand for travel globally and, consequently, a boost in airline profitability. According to a December 2015 report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global passenger air travel grew 6.7% in 2015 and will climb another 6.9% in 2016. Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced full-year global passenger traffic results for 2016 showing demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 6.3% compared to 2015 (or 6.0% if adjusted for the leap year). This strong performance was well ahead of the ten-year average annual growth rate of 5.5%. Capacity rose 6.2% (unadjusted) compared to 2015, pushing the load factor up 0.1 percentage points to a record full-year average high of 80.5%. A particularly strong performance was reported for December with an 8.8% rise in demand outstripping 6.6% capacity growth.

“Air travel was a good news story in 2016. Connectivity increased with the establishment of more than 700 new routes. And a $44 fall in average return fares helped to make air travel even more accessible. As a result, a record 3.7 billion passengers flew safely to their destination. Demand for air travel is still expanding. With fuel prices expected to remain low this year, the IATA anticipates another boost in 2017. Digital Marketing Researches predicts worldwide digital travel sales will see double-digit growth through 2018 as a result of this incremental behavior in the Air Transportation.

IATA Forecasts Passenger Demand to Double Over 20 Years

The forecast for passenger growth confirms that the biggest driver of demand will be the Asia-Pacific region. It is expected to be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next 20 years. China will displace the US as the world’s largest aviation market (defined by traffic to, from and within the country) around 2024*.

India will displace the UK for third place in 2025*, while Indonesia enters the top ten at the expense of Italy. Growth will also increasingly be driven within developing markets. Over the past decade the developing world’s share of total passenger traffic has risen from 24% to nearly 40%, and this trend is set to continue.

Also According to IATA, the Fast-growing markets are as follows, and if you look at the tally. China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam are among the Top 5 resulting total passengers of 2.134 Billions.

IATA Stats Travel Sales Passenger Behaviour

The five fastest-growing markets in terms of additional passengers per year over the forecast period will be;

China (817 million new passengers for a total of 1.3 billion)
US (484 million new passengers for a total of 1.1 billion)
India (322 million new passengers for a total of 442 million)
Indonesia (135 million new passengers for a total of 242 million)
Vietnam (112 million new passengers for a total of 150 million)

However, in dollar figures, estimates for digital travel sales in every major region (except Asia-Pacific) have been revised downward as a result of fluctuating exchange rates, which have been updated to reflect average rates in 2015. Global currencies of most major markets included in forecast have weakened in 2015 against the US dollar, leading to numerous reductions to travel sales forecasts.

Digital Travel Sales

And overall, worldwide digital travel sales will rise 11.5% in 2017 to reach $629.81 billion. Growth will continue steadily throughout 2020 and it is predicted to reach $817.54 billion by then.

What’s happening in Sri Lanka

Tourist arrivals and earnings had begun increasing in 2009, soon after the Civil War in the country, since then industry has shown significant improvements in all the forms. Global Digital transformation has helped the country significantly with all these popular booking engines have started supporting the local hotels and opened up their affiliate offices and their own operational offices in Sri Lanka. As a country Sri Lanka has succeeded in the Information Technology and usage of ICT in B2B, B2C. Our E-Business readiness is ranked very high in the Global indexes and Sri Lanka is leading in South Asia in almost every index when it comes E-Business Readiness.

Following Graph shows how the Tourist Arrivals have gone up from 2010 to date.

Sri Lanka Tourist Trends

Source: Statista / emarketer.com / IATA.org / reports.weforum.org / sltda.lk – Compiled by Anjana Gunatillake of Lanka Business News

July 2, 2017

Exploring Sri Lanka with Caspar Lee and his Girlfriend Maddie. We spent the week surfing, snorkeling and discovering the beautiful beaches and scenery of this amazing country along with it’s extremely friendly locals Sri lanka quickly became a favourite country of mine! Wish I could have stayed longer but I will definitely be back !

July 1, 2017

Sri Lanka’s documented history spans 3,000 years, with evidence of pre-historic human settlements dating back to at least 125,000 years.Its geographic location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to World War II. Sri Lanka was known from the beginning of British colonial rule until 1972 as Ceylon . Sri Lanka’s recent history has been marred by a thirty-year civil war which decisively ended when the Sri Lankan military defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

A diverse and multicultural country, Sri Lanka is home to many religions, ethnic groups, and languages. In addition to the majority Sinhalese, it is home to large groups of Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils, Moors, Burghers, Malays, Kaffirs and the aboriginal Vedda. Sri Lanka has a rich Buddhist heritage, and the first known Buddhist writings of Sri Lanka, the Pāli Canon, date back to the Fourth Buddhist council in 29 BC.

June 1, 2017

Collaboratively administrate turnkey channels whereas virtual e-tailers. Interactively coordinate proactive e-commerce via process-centric "outside the box" thinking.

June 1, 2017

My personal top 5 Things to do in Sri Lanka shouldn’t be missed when visiting Sri Lanka as they represent what makes this country so special: exotic wildlife, impressive landscapes, places full of history and the popular Ceylon tea!

While traveling the country for more than 2 weeks I discovered a new side of the island almost every day. I have been in Sri Lanka for a video production and got to see and experience a lot in a comparably short amount of time.

Accompanied by local guides and wildlife experts I visited several places all over the country: from Colombo through the center to the north-east, afterwards I flew back and went to the south coast and continued to Yala as well as the highlands in Kandy. The following things to do in Sri Lanka are my personal top picks!

Subscribe to him on Youtube: BackPacker Steve

May 2, 2017

he World’s Best New Hotels according to Condé Nast Traveler’s Editors & Contributors

Condé Nast Traveler today announced the winners of its 2017 HOT LISTwith CHENA HUTS BY UGA ESCAPES recognized as one of the selected winners in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 Hot List.

The Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2017 recognizes the best properties around the world that have opened their doors in the last year. “Our annual Hot List, a rigorous selection of our favorite new hotel openings of the past year, is a predictor of what properties will stand the test of time, make history, and let you reimagine how you want to live and travel” Says Pilar Guzmán in her editor’s letter, “Our goal is that these properties spark the heat of early romance in the beginning, and then eventually settle into enduring love.”

Located in the islands’safari hot spot, this spacious 7acre property accommodates only fourteen 781sqf guest cabins, each designed to echo the local architecture and harmonize with the jungle environment.The cabins of the resort comprises a living room, bedroom, en suite bathroom and shaded outdoor deck with built-in plunge pool. The luxurious bathrooms boast free-standing bathtubs and twin vanity consoles. Having recognized as a leading resort worldwide, Mr. Priyanjith Weerasooria, the Managing Director of Uga Escapes expressed,“We are very delighted to bea part of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 Hot List. It is an admirable effort by our team at Chena Huts as they are dedicated in working towardsservice excellence. To be recognized as one of Sri Lanka’s leading resorts by Condé Nast Traveler is indeed a privilege as it marks excellence in the travel industry”. Tipped to be the most Luxurious resort in Sri Lanka’s safari hotspot Yala, this 14 cabin property is perfect for a luxury safari holiday.

About Condé Nast Traveler

As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. Condé Nast Traveler is the most trusted and celebrated name in travel with 6 National Magazine Award wins and 26 nominations in its 28-year history. Advertising Age named Pilar Guzmán Editor of the Year in 2014 and CNTraveler.com attained 3 Webby Awards in 2015. www.cntraveler.com

Uga Escapes is a fully owned subsidiary of the Finco Group. Incorporated in 1963, the group comprises several companies recording success in diverse fields. The company owns boutique properties offering unique experiences across the island that include- the 20 luxury villa Ulagalla in Anuradhapura, Jungle Beach, Trincomalee, and Uga Bay, Pasikudah, Residence by Uga Escapes in the heart of Colombo and the latest addition Chena Huts in Yala.

April 26, 2017

Languidly lying just about 14km north of city of Trincomalee, Nilaveli is home to a long stretch of beach with pearly white coral sand and shallow waters that allow one to wade out to sea for hundreds of feet in some areas. Cradled on the lap of a virgin sweep of beach here, Oceanfront Condos is a hideaway from the rest of the world; a place where gurgling waves wakes one up to day upon day of sun kissed bliss.

The very first beach-front, serviced, luxury, leisure apartments of its kind in the island, Oceanfront Condos homes 81 condominiums in total. The first phase of the apartment contract is to be completed by September 2017; this means the event of handing over keys to its owners is almost at hand. Boasting of large living spaces that blend with its gorgeous natural surroundings, with each condominium enjoying views of the Indian Ocean from both the living and bedrooms, the Condos are an ideal investment for a discerning few who understand the necessity to have a home away from home; a home to just throw the feet up and unwind by the beach.

What makes the model of Oceanfront Condos’ operations convenient is that once the apartment is purchased and furnished by the owner, the Company acts as a facilitator for condominium rentals. While owners go about their life, the Company manages and lets out the condominiums on rent, thus enabling the owner parties to earn an additional income from their holiday beach-front homes.

Oceanfront Condos features a swimming pool, a gymnasium, and a café within its precincts. It is also comfortably located just a 20 minute boat ride away from the Pigeon Island Marine National Park with its jeweled coral gardens and 300 types of reef fish that makes it a snorkelers’ and divers’ paradise.
Oceanfront Condos’ close proximity to Trincomalee makes it a viable hub to visit. Its natural harbor, Konesvaram temple and Fort Frederick are some interesting sites here. Another attraction, of course, is whale watching at the harbor. Potential buyers are invited to visit the property and its fully furnished show apartment this holiday season, to inspect and explore the value of this Nilaveli beachfront investment. Visit to www.oceanfrontnilaveli.com to get more details.

Located on a beautiful slice of paradise flaunting vibrantly colored sunrises, Oceanfront Condos offers intimate moments with nature, blissful solitude, and a hassle free opportunity to earn an additional income. Do not miss the opportunity to reserve your very own apartment with the best view of the ocean.

April 19, 2017

SriLankan Holidays, the leisure arm of SriLankan Airlines, is taking its amazing range of travel products to many far-flung corners of the island in a series of road shows, with the latest taking place in Anuradhapura, giving the people of the ancient capital a glimpse of the exotic experiences it offers throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The initiative to take SriLankan Holidays’ (www.srilankanholidays.com) wide array of products to people living in cities around Sri Lanka has resulted in road shows in Kandy, Galle, Kurunegala and Trincomalee.

Over 100 prominent persons and existing SriLankan Holidays’ customers in Anuradhapura participated in the latest awareness creation campaign, which included an enthralling presentation on SriLankan Holidays and its many destinations and leisure packages. The event gave interested travelers the opportunity to meet with the travel professionals of SriLankan Holidays, who were on hand to explain holiday packages, distribute leaflets, and make bookings, and also to meet like-minded travelers and exchange ideas and experiences during cocktails and dinner on 31st March at the Golden Mango Resort.

SriLankan Holidays specialises in providing packages to many amazing destinations throughout the National Carrier’s wide global route network, which include airfare and hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast basis. Packages are tailored to suit any requirement, including day excursions within those cities, in partnership with many leading local tour operators, hotels, and other tourism related organizations there.

Apart from leisure travel, SriLankan Holidays also utilizes its considerable expertise and networking abilities to provide romantic getaways, pilgrimages and niche travel such as MICE travel (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions), adventure, etc.

Customers also get to experience SriLankan Airlines’ award-winning standards in service, comforts, in-flight entertainment and on-board cuisine while flying to and from their holiday destinations on SriLankan’s sophisticated new fleet which includes the latest Airbus A330-300 and A320neo aircraft.

More information on SriLankan Holidays can be obtained by telephoning 019733 3838 from anywhere within Sri Lanka.

April 17, 2017

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka: Mueen Saheed, a contemporary abstract artist from Colombo, had his recent works on display at a special viewing held at Shangri-La’s Resort & Spa in Hambantota on April 5th.The artist showcased over 22 warm-hued canvases—most of them figurative in nature.

The viewing unveiled the artist’s commissioned works for Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa. The inaugural commemorative prints conveyed the aura of the surrounding landscape and wildlife in Hambantota. Unlike most depictions that rely purely on representation, the artist claimed that his works were meant to be viewed as narratives.

Speaking about the endeavor Saheed said, “This is a special event and I’m grateful to Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa for this opportunity. What you see today reflects an abstract medium of art which is non-verbal and expresses only emotion. Feelings like laughter, fragrance, beauty, deep contemplation, moods, thoughts, heartbeats and my inner soul,” Saheed said.

The artist’s work will be on display at the resort in the lobby, the Bojunhala restaurant and in a select number of premium rooms.

“We are so glad to showcase the talented work of a Sri Lankan artist at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa. Mueen is dedicated to his craft and has truly captured the spirit of Hambantota in these paintings. We are confident that our guests will derive as much pleasure from viewing these special pieces as Mueen did creating them,” said Iain McCormack General Manager, Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa

Saheed is a self-described traveler and has toured most parts of the world. He exhibits at art galleries throughout the world. Last year, the artist presented President Maithripala Sirisena a painting to mark the completion of the President’s first year in office and the 100-day program.

Overlooking the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa is located along the ancient Spice Route in a city steeped in history. Known for its natural beauty and wildlife, it is indeed a source of inspiration for the artistic mind.

April 4, 2017

From egg-centric Easter brunches to gourmet Easter treats, the Bojunhala, Gimanhala, and Ulpatha restaurants will be the perfect place to bring family and friends to celebrate the Easter holiday. The Bojunhala will host an Easter brunch buffet on April 16th featuring dishes such as rotisserie leg of lamb, chilled ratatouille with poached eggs, pâté en croute with hard-boiled eggs, hot cross buns and a selection of delectable desserts like peach pana cotta and coconut crème brûlée. The brunch will take place from 12:30pm to 3:30 pm and will cost LKR 4,000 per person.

The Gimanhala will host an Easter Twilight on April 16th and 17th from 4pm to 6pm. It will be priced at LKR 8,000 and also include a bottle of wine. The Ulpatha will host an Easter BBQ — priced at LKR 18,500 per couple — on April 16th and 17th from 6pm to 11pm.

On this day of celebration, the Cool Zone will feature plenty of activities to keep younger guests happy such as egg painting, arts and craft, face painting, and an egg hunt. Furthermore, CHI — the Ayurveda Spa at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa — will offer an ‘Easter Precious’ 45-minute stress relief back massage and a chocolate dip wrap for LKR 15,500.

About Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited, one of the world’s premier hotel management companies, currently operates over 95 hotels in 22 countries and 73 destinations under the Shangri-La, Kerry, Hotel Jen and Traders brands. Prominently positioned in Asia, the group has established its brand hallmark of “hospitality from the heart” over four decades in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, North America and the Indian Ocean. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.

Older Posts

The centre of gravity is shifting East as a result of the boom in Digital Travel Sales

Sri Lanka the Hidden Gem of Asia

Sri Lanka Land of Lakes & Wildlife Animals

Sri Lanka named Asia’s Leading Destination 2017

The Best of Sri Lanka (Travel Video Montage)

Chena Huts by Uga Escapes recognized with Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 hot list

Oceanfront Condos at Nilaveli: A Slice of Paradise to Call ‘Home’

SriLankan Holidays gives Anuradhapura a taste of global leisure travel

Acclaimed local artist to be featured at Shangri-La’s Hambantota resort & spa

The First Easter Celebration at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa