Jaffna’s tourism boom lifts Jetwing Jaffna to new heights

Jetwing Jaffna experienced a significant financial upswing in the fiscal year 2023/24, achieving a 60% improvement in performance compared to the preceding year. 

This positive trend reflects the property’s ongoing success in establishing itself as a leading luxury city hotel within the northern peninsula. Additionally, occupancy rates have demonstrably increased, rising from 37% in the previous fiscal year to 61% in 2023/24.

Jetwing Jaffna Hotel is owned by Yarl Hotels Ltd. which was jointly promoted by MMBL Pathfinder Group of Companies, Jetwing Hotels and Regency Teas.

Jaffna is increasingly gaining popularity as a tourist destination; owing largely to its well-developed transportation infrastructure. This network encompasses road, rail, sea, and air travel options, facilitating convenient access for visitors. Jaffna International Airport, located in Palaly, further enhances connectivity by offering international flights, including direct connections from India. 

Jetwing Jaffna Hotel was one of the first of its kind to welcome guests to the vibrant city of Jaffna. At seven stories high, Jetwing Jaffna stands out as a symbol of luxurious Sri Lankan hospitality in the northern peninsula. Each of the 55 deluxe rooms at Jetwing Jaffna embodies a unique blend of contemporary comfort and rich cultural heritage. Adorned with traditional artwork depicting the region’s fascinating history, the rooms feature furnishings bathed in rustic northern colours, resulting in a distinctly modern living space. As one of Jaffna’s tallest structures, the hotel boasts a rooftop offering arguably the best viewpoint on the peninsula – with panoramic views of the city, lagoon, and lands beyond.

Jetwing’s commitment to sustainable tourism remains steadfast at Jetwing Jaffna. The hotel actively minimises its environmental impact through the utilisation of solar thermal systems for hot water generation. Additionally, effluent treatment plants effectively process the hotel’s wastewater through biological treatment methods. Recognising the region’s aridity, Jetwing Jaffna employs a reverse osmosis plant to purify groundwater, ensuring guest consumption without further straining water-stressed resources.

As the pioneering hospitality establishment in Jaffna’s northern capital, Jetwing encountered a challenge: a lack of skilled young personnel for hotel operations. To address this need, Jetwing Jaffna implemented the award-winning Jetwing Youth Development Program (JYDP). The program equips local youth with the necessary skills to thrive in the hospitality industry, encompassing training in hotel operations, English language proficiency, and cultural knowledge. Notably, many graduates of JYDP continue to contribute their talents within Jetwing Hotels.

Jaffna offers a combination of historical, cultural, and geographical experiences is sprawled across the northern peninsula; including iconic cultural landmarks like the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Nainativu, and Dambakola Patuna, alongside historical sites like the Jaffna Library and the iconic Jaffna Fort. Its lagoons, teeming with magnificent birdlife, attract annual visitations of flamingos and other migratory and endemic avian species.

Despite the abundance of attractions Jaffna offers, a critical gap exists in the form of a shortage of skilled tour guides and interpreters within the Northern region. To bridge this gap and empower local youth, Jetwing Hotels collaborated with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and the Northern Province Tourism Bureau. This collaboration aimed to equip Jaffna’s youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel as regional tour leaders. Led by seasoned professionals from the hospitality and tourism sectors, the curriculum combined theoretical knowledge with invaluable practical advice and real-world insights gleaned from their extensive industry experience. For Jetwing Jaffna Hotel information please visit https://www.jetwinghotels.com/jetwingjaffna/#gref