Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort becomes the only Sri Lankan hospitality provider, winning the Connections Award at the Luxperience 2024 Luxe Awards, held at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. The prestigious accolade celebrates the resort’s excellence in the high-end luxury travel sector, recognising its innovation, meticulous execution, and commitment to meaningful connections within the travel industry.

The Luxperience Awards are renowned for setting benchmarks in luxury travel, honouring exceptional contributions to the evolving nature of high-end travel experiences. Judged by a panel of travel industry experts, the awards spotlight inspiring campaigns, meaningful collaborations, and innovations that resonate with discerning travellers.

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle stood out to the judges for its thoughtful execution, which engaged a diverse audience through multiple channels while showcasing unparalleled support for the travel advisor community. The campaign fostered strong connections between advisors and hotel partners, elevating the resort’s position as a leader in luxury experiential travel. The awards ceremony was attended by key players in the global luxury travel community.

Source: https://www.traveltalkasia.com/2024/11/25/anantara-peace-haven-tangalle-wins-prestigious-connections-award-at-luxperience-2024/

Enter Air’s inaugural charter flight touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on October 30, 2024, marking the start of a new series of charter connections between Poland and Sri Lanka. This Warsaw-Colombo route will operate regularly until the end of March 2025, enhancing travel and tourism links between the two countries.

Upon arrival, the aircraft was honored with a water salute, and passengers were warmly welcomed by a traditional dance performance arranged by Sri Lanka Tourism, celebrating the vibrant culture of the island.

Source: https://aviationvoice.lk/enter-air-begins-charter-flights-connecting-poland-and-sri-lanka/

Aiming to capitalize on the growing number of outbound Indian travelers, Sri Lanka has launched new initiatives to attract Indian tourists. Sri Lankan Airlines, the country’s national carrier has launched a unique package for Indian tourists- the “Ramayana Trail” that includes 50 significant locations in the country which is associated with the Hindu epic.

These include Seeta Amman Temple, where Mata Sita is said to have prayed during her captivity, to Rumassala hill, where a piece of the Himalayas is believed to have landed, dropped by Hanuman.

Launching the trail officially over the weekend in Delhi, the Sri Lankan high commissioner said, “The Ramayan is not merely a story, it is a tapestry encapsulating culture, spirituality, and heritage. It has been a source of inspiration, guidance, fostering a connection between India & Sri Lanka…Sri Lankan Airlines is not only offering the opportunity to discover significant locations” 

Source: https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Sri-Lanka-launches-new-initiatives-to-attract-Indian-tourists/108-296663

Sri Lanka has claimed the top spot for solo travel in 2025, advancing from fourth place in 2024, Travel Company ‘Flash Pack’ reports based on new data.

Flash Pack‘s latest trends report reveals with solo travellers getting older and increasingly drawn to Asian destinations, Sri Lanka has secured the most popular spot for 2025. 

In a report by online travel magazine ‘Globetrender’, ‘Flash Pack’ says the appeal is clear, adding: “Sri Lanka packs in all the punch of India – only on a smaller, more accessible scale, and delivered at a much slower pace.” The company highlights diverse experiences from “incense-swirled cities, buzzing with tuk-tuks” to “misty highlands steeped in tea plantations” and dramatic coastlines.

“But where Sri Lanka really comes into its own,” the company adds, “is its easy-going balance of beaches, spoiling hotels and restorative, delicately spiced food.”

Source: https://www.newswire.lk/2024/11/22/sri-lanka-revealed-as-most-popular-solo-travel-destination-for-2025/

Jetstar Asia, based in Singapore, officially launched scheduled flight operations between Sri Lanka and Singapore on November 21, 2024.

The airline will operate five return flights weekly, utilizing its modern Airbus A320 fleet to connect the two destinations.

The inaugural flight touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 10:30 AM, carrying 179 passengers. It received a ceremonial water salute from Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), marking the occasion with grandeur.

Source: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/jetstar-asia-officially-launches-flights-between-singapore-and-sri-lanka-what-new-you-need-to-know/

The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Public Broadcasting Service of Thailand (Thai PBS), have made arrangements to produce a documentary on “Solosmastana”, featuring the 16 sacred religious sites of Sri Lanka. This initiative aims to strengthen Buddhist religious tourism between the two countries, highlighting the shared cultural and spiritual heritage. As part of the project, a seven-member team from Thai PBS and TAT visited Sri Lanka from 11 to 21 November 2024 to document these revered sites.

Prior to their departure to Sri Lanka, Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe met with the visiting crew from Thai PBS and TAT at the Embassy. During the meeting, Ambassador Edirisinghe highlighted the significance of the “Solosmastana” documentary in fostering deeper cultural and religious connections between Sri Lanka and Thailand. She emphasized the documentary’s potential to enhance Buddhist religious tourism by showcasing the spiritual and historical ties shared by the two nations. The Ambassador also extended her gratitude to Thai PBS, TAT, and all supporting partners for their collaboration in this initiative and wished the crew success in their mission.

The documentary is set to air on Thai PBS next year, offering audiences in Thailand an inspiring glimpse into the rich Buddhist heritage of Sri Lanka and further strengthening the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

Source: https://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/promoting-buddhist-religious-tourism-sri-lanka-and-thailand-collaborate-on-solosmastana-documentary/

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1.7 million arrivals so far for 2024 with over 100,000 visitors welcomed during the first 17 days of November 2024, signalling a strong momentum as the year-end holiday season approaches.

From 1-17 November 2024, the country received 103,315 tourists, pushing the year-to-date (YTD) figure to over 1.72 million. The daily average tourist arrivals were at 6,077. 

Read more: https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Tourist-arrivals-surpass-1-7-m-milestone/44-769415

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara promoted Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and diverse travel offerings at Travel EXPO 2024, which took place from 14 to 17 November at the ATO Congresium in Ankara.

The Travel EXPO, one of Türkiye’s premier tourism events, featured participants from 30 countries, 14 cities, with over 240 exhibitors, providing  a significant opportunity for Sri Lanka to enhance its visibility on a global stage and promote tourism, while strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties with Türkiye.

The Sri Lanka booth captured the country’s unique charm, highlighting its scenic landscapes, world-renowned Ceylon tea, Ceylon cinnamon, and traditional crafts. 

Read more: https://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/sri-lanka-participates-in-7th-international-tourism-and-travel-fair-in-ankara/

Enhancing convenience for Sri Lankan customers travelling to Hong Kong and beyond, Hong Kong’s home carrier Cathay Pacific has announced a new winter schedule for 2024-2025. The airline will be operating four return flights per week — up from the current three — between Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport and Hong Kong from 2 January 2025 to 1 March 2025, with plans to further increase the frequency to five return flights per week from 2 March 2025 to 30 March 2025. These flights will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft, equipped with flatbeds in Business class, as well as Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

Customers wishing to continue their journey to onward destinations can connect onto flights to other cities in the Greater Bay Area as well as popular destinations in the Chinese Mainland, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand via Cathay Pacific’s home hub, Hong Kong.

Read more: https://www.traveltalkasia.com/2024/11/15/cathay-pacific-enhances-winter-schedule-with-additional-flights-from-colombo/

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm hosted an event promoting Sri Lanka as a premier tourism destination, with a special emphasis on the wonders of Sigiriya and Sri Lanka’s rapidly growing wellness tourism sector. 

The program was held in collaboration with the Swedish Chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Siddhalepha Wellness Resorts & Spa. The event brought together prominent PATA members in Sweden.

Read more: https://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/Wonders-of-Sigiriya-and-Sri-Lankan-wellness-tourismpromoted-in-Sweden/27-769205