A DESTINATION THAT NOT ONLY TICKS ALL THE BOXES BUT DEFINITELY EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS IS SRI LANKA.
“With its rich heritage, plethora of cultural treasures, stunning scenery and incredible wildlife, this exotic island offers families the chance to venture beyond the beach and embark on unforgettable adventures,” agreed Suhailiya Hussain, head of operations, La-Nerim Holidays.
Her confidence in the country’s tourism product was mirrored by Sushan Peiris, director, Modern Voyages.
“Sri Lanka can offer something unique to each and every member of the family. Whatever the age group might be or whether [they] seek to relax, shop, build sandcastles, explore the lush untouched rain forests or simply enjoy a luxurious stay, Sri Lanka has it all,” he enthused, adding that the best part is that all these activities are just a couple of hours drive away from each other, thus everybody can have a piece of what they want.
“And let us not forget that you will hardly see a Sri Lankan that does not smile,” Peiris reminded.
Another important consideration for travelling families is security, and as local industry stakeholders assure, guests are safe in Sri Lanka.
“The evergreen island is labelled as a remarkably safe place to visit whereas crime against foreigners is virtually unheard of,” declared Ashad Wahab, CEO, Miracle Sri Lanka.
Similar views were expressed by Hussain, who said that the people on the island are hospitable, welcoming and caring, so everyone can feel safe.
MENA-FOCUSSED
For MENA travellers specifically, Sri Lanka is an attractive destination due to its accessibility, with several airlines flying to Colombo, including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia Airlines and Emirates, among others.
The latter one has, in fact, announced increased capacity on the route to five daily flights from Dubai, effective from August 01.
Explaining the decision, Ahmed Khoory, senior vice president, commercial operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean, Emirates, foresaw that the boosted frequency provides the airline’s customers with greater flexibility in their travel plans, allowing them to explore the exciting destination.
While the availability and frequency of flights are important, for many parents short flight times are the real draw.
“[Sri Lanka is] only a four-hour flight away, so [it is] ideal for a quick getaway with short journey times,” noted Suranjith de Fonseka, chief marketing officer, Serendib Leisure Management, before touching upon yet another consideration for regional travellers, especially families – Halal and other Muslim-friendly offerings.
De Fonseka highlighted three of the group’s properties, each of which has received a high mark by Crescent Rating: AVANI Bentota Resort & Spa, AVANI Kalutara Resort and Club Hotel Dolphin.
He explained that at these resorts and hotels, Quran and prayer mats are available upon request, Qibla direction is marked in rooms, staff is trained on directing guests to the nearest mosque and suitable meal options are offered in the morning and evening during fasting periods.
Another CrescentRating-certified group is Aitken Spence Hotels (ASH), as Althaf Mohamed Ali, vice president, sales and marketing, ASH, shared, “Our hotels have obtained CrescentRating certification […].
Our hotels offer prayer mats in each rooms with Qiblah direction marked, special emphasis on Halal food which is clearly marked on the menu and buffets, provision of prayer times and special arrangements during the Ramadan period, including arrangements for Iftar.”
Similar attitude was expressed by industry members across the country, and Anusha Frydman, director of sales and marketing, Lavanga Resort & Spa, explained, “Islam in Sri Lanka is practiced by only a minority of the population but has been […] respected by all the other religions and their followers.”
