SLTPB sets sights on Sports Tourism

Wednesday, 19 August 2015 01:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The global sports tourism business, which is valued at $ 600 billion and is defined by people being involved, observing or participating in a particular sport for leisure, will be focused on by Sri Lanka Tourism initially through the sport of golf and thereafter surfing, in partnership with SriLankan Airlines and its respective global body, said Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Chairman Dr. Rohantha Athukorala at the launch of the Beach Boutique Hotel located in the outskirts of Pamunugama.

Athukorala went on to say that Sri Lanka Tourism was in the final stages of a plan with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board on how the country’s cricketing culture could be used to promote it as a prime tourist destination in the key markets of India, UK and Australia, which among the top ten tourism source markets for Sri Lanka.

The Chairman of the Beach Boutique Hotel Deepthi Jayamaha said: “We started this venture as a holiday home for families and then due to the demand up-scaled it to a boutique hotel. The insight shared by the Chairman of the SLTPB that 49% of travellers to Sri Lanka were consumed by the informal sector was a key insight while 77% of them used digital media in the decision-making process with TripAdvisor being a strong influence. This tells us what to do to fill our rooms.”