Akshay Kumar– Mumbai
With an aim to promote Sri Lanka in the India market, Lotus Destinations has opened an office- Sri Lankan Travel Hub in Andheri, Mumbai. As of now the focus is towards attracting leisure travellers from India to Sri Lanka. Lotus destination has been associated with Sri Lanka since 2010. The delegates who were present for the opening of the office included Vasantha Leelananda, executive vice president, head-destination management sector, Johm Keells Group; Manesha Madiwalagamage, deputy regional manager- western India, Walkers Tours and consul general of Sri Lanka, Upekkha Samaratunga.
Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Leelananda, said, “Our initial intention is to start with Mumbai, as Maharashtra has been an excellent outbound market. We will also market our products and offerings pan India. India is considered as one of the biggest market for leisure travel for Sri Lanka. Most of the people involved in the travel and hospitality business in Sri Lanka are welcoming Indian travellers as India is the biggest market for us.”
Nalini Gupta, managing director, Lotus Destinations, said, “This next step is to make Sri Lanka a stronger business vertical for the company. It’s a great destination to encourage weddings, bollywood and MICE groups because of its exotic venue settings across the beaches, various properties to select from all at a very affordable price. I and my team are excited and are looking forward to increase the tourism growth in this country. The best part about offering Sri Lanka to customers is that it has variety of options to choose from like beach holidays at Bentota and Negombo, Yala National Park where one can witness the leopard, Kandy with its natural green beauty and the tea estates of Nuwara eliya- which is rightly called the hill country of Sri lanka.”
