Newly renovated Tourist Information Centre opens in Kandy

The newly renovated Tourist Information Centre (TIC) operated under the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) was ceremonially opened to the public recently, by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Kishu Gomes, along with Kandy Hoteliers Association President Samantha Rathnayake, and his key members, Central Province Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism Director W.M.A.H. Bandara, and his staff.

Director PR Madubhani Perera, along with other SLTPB staff, two foreigners from Spain and Slovakia who visited the counter at that time seeking information also joined in this simple yet charming ceremony to mark the occasion.

The new Tourist Information Centre is located at No. 13, Colombo Street, Kandy, within a close proximity to the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is a major tourist attraction of Kandy which draws thousands of tourists each year. Tourists as well as the locals will find it very useful to get information and useful tips from this new Information Centre as it is located within easy access from any location in Kandy.

Going back to the history of the Tourist Information Centre based in Kandy, it dates back to 1978 where it started at Queen’s Bath and moved to several places thereafter, including places like the Kandyan Art Association, Queens Hotel, Headsman Lodge, and Old Laksala Building.

In 2010, this Information Centre again moved to Kandy City Centre and functioned until 2016 and again moved back to Old Laksala Building. Thereafter it functioned at the Central Province Information Centre, Kandy for about one-and-a-half years until a suitable permanent location was found for the Information Centre.

As it was a most crucial need to have a Tourist Information Centre in the heart of Kandy, it was a must to find a building close by to the Scared Temple of the Tooth Relic as each year, tourists visit this holy and sacred place of worship in large crowds, and the need of an information Centre, was an important fact which was highlighted among everyone. The current building which is very near to the Tooth Relic Temple was taken over in August 2018, and designing and other related work was carried out during the past few months with the special approval of the Kandy Municipality Council. The TIC centres of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau do a great service by guiding tourists and providing information by being of 24/7 assistance. Thus the newly opened TIC Centre of the SLTPB will have more accessibility and more travel guidance for tourists visiting Kandy. Currently SLTPB operates Tourist Information Centres in Colombo, and at the Bandaranaike International Airport, and it has plans to set up Information Centres at Railway Stations such as in Kandy, Galle and in Colombo Fort in the future.