Kandy Esala Perahara - August 1st to 11th

The month of Esala (July), during which period this annual pageant is usually held, had been considered a month of celebrations and festivity, both among Indians and Sri Lankans. Even from the lifetime of the Buddha in the 6th century BC, the Esala festival was held to commemorate the Buddha's Conception, his Renunciation and the First Sermon. Esala is also considered to be the beginning of the raining season (Vassana) when the monks commence their Retreat. Also, this month is considered to be the period when ritual performances to the protective divinities are held, (eg Pattini puja) as recorded in the text 'Pattini-Halla'. Being considered a 'chaste' month, the period is held sacred for the availability of water, hence prosperity.

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Kandy Esala Perahara - August 1st to 11th

The month of Esala (July), during which period this annual pageant is usually held, had been considered a month of celebrations and festivity, both among Indians and Sri Lankans. Even from the lifetime of the Buddha in the 6th century BC, the Esala festival was held to commemorate the Buddha's Conception, his Renunciation and the First Sermon. Esala is also considered to be the beginning of the raining season (Vassana) when the monks commence their Retreat. Also, this month is considered to be the period when ritual performances to the protective divinities are held, (eg Pattini puja) as recorded in the text 'Pattini-Halla'. Being considered a 'chaste' month, the period is held sacred for the availability of water, hence prosperity.

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“Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” Shopping Mall Activation Attracts Heavy Crowd

Sri Lanka Tourism implemented a shopping mall activation campaign from 04th -06th July 2014 in Shanghai – China under “Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” promotional campaign. Held at the Century Plaza on Nanjing Road, the three-day campaign themed "Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai" has attracted a large number of travel enthusiasts and urban public to this event. The entrance to the Nanjing Lu Century Square was designed with a life size replica of the ancient Yapahuwa Entrance and the event arena was decorated with elephants and wildlife replicas which were the main attraction for drawing the crowds to the shopping Mall event held in Nanjing Lu square. With world-renowned Sri Lankan jewelry, textiles, seafood, black tea and other special commodities presented, for the crowds gathered at the century square. Moreover, handicrafts featured with Sri Lanka ethnic characteristics have dazzled a large number of urban visitors, who were impressed by superb artistry of these products while travel enthusiasts were more concerned about the local cultural performances and natural beauty in Sri Lanka and actively took part in games at site.

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Glamorous “Sri Lanka Night” Shines in Shanghai

Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai three day mega promotional campaign in China reached its climax with a glamorous ‘Sri Lankan Night’ which was held in the evening of 4th July 2014 at Pudong Shangri La Hotel in Shanghai. The event was graced by the distinguished presence of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development of Sri Lanka as the chief guest of this glamorous evening.

The other VIP guests who were present at the event included Hon. Shan Wijayalal, Chief Minister, Southern Provincial Council, Sri Lanka, Hon. (Madam). Zhang Li Li, Chairperson for Foreign Affairs, Shanghai Municipal Government, H E. Ranjith Uyangoda , the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China , Hon. Nazeer Ahamed, Provincial Minister (Tourism), Eastern Provincial Council, Sri Lanka , Hon. Dao Shu Ming, Chairman, China Friendship Association with Foreign Countries , Ms. Yasun Wang, Vice Chairperson, All China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese ,Mr. Yong Jiang Huang, CEO, Infinit-Tea Ltd, Mr. Wang Yingqi, Counsellor (Economic and Commerce), Embassy of China in Colombo, Sri Lanka and Mr. Gu Jun, Vice Chair of Municipal Commission of Commerce of Shanghai.

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“Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” B2B Travel & Trade Forum Creates a Huge Opportunity for Sri Lanka

Under the joint mega promotional campaign “Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” from July 01st to 6th July 2014 in Shanghai –China , Sri Lanka Tourism implemented a tourism and trade promotional business forum specifically schemed to attract Chinese travel and trade partners was held on 4th July 2014 in Shangri-La Hotel, Pudong. The event was graced by the presence of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa , Minister of Economic Development who was the chief guest at the event along with Madam. Shang Yu Ying, Chairperson Municipal Commission for Commerce of Shanghai, China.

Other distinguish guests who have participated for the inaugural ceremony of B2B Travel & Trade Business Forum included Hon. Shan Wijeyalal, Chief Minister, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, Hon. Dao Shu Ming, Chairman, China Friendship Association with Foreign Countries , H E Mr Ranjith Uyangoda , the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China , Mrs. Hasanthy Dissanayake. Consul General of Sri Lanka in Shanghai, Mr. Yang Jing Song, Chairman of Tourism Administration , Mr. Nasser Ahamed, Provincial Minister (Tourism), Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, Mr. Shen Shan Zhou, Deputy Director of Shanghai Tourism Administration and Mr. Chen Ping, Deputy Director of International Dept, Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai, Mr. Anura Siriwardhane, Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Sri Lanka, Mr. Bhashwara Gunarathna, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism, Dr. D S Jayaweera, Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr.Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Chairman, Sri Lankan Airlines, Mr Rumy Jauffer , Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism promotion Bureau, Mr. Mervin Fernandopulle, Board Member, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

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“Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” Marks the Beginning with a Press Conference

( 01st July 2014, Shanghai) On the afternoon of July 1st, kick-off press conference of Sri Lanka Joint Mega Promotion Campaign - “Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” was held in Shangri-La Hotel, Pudong, Shanghai. The activity, sponsored by Ministry of Economic Development, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing China and Sri Lanka Consulate in Shanghai, was intended to comprehensively introduce tourism, culture, and economy of Sri Lanka to Chinese people.

The Consul General of Sri Lanka in Shanghai, Ms. Hasanthi Dissanayake, Mr. Rumy Jauffer, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Mr. Asoka Hettigoda – Chairman of Siddhalepa Group of Companies and special invitees Mr. Er Dong Qiang , a Shanghinese Photographer and Ms. Chen Danyan, the famous Shanghai novelist and travel writer, Sri Lankan senior officials, and more than 120 media of China attended the conference.

Consul General of Sri Lanka in Shanghai, Ms. Hasanthi Dissanayake delivering the inaugural speech said, “Over a long history, China and Sri Lanka increasingly strengthened their friendship. I hope you really love the show we prepared in Shanghai. With China’s economic growth, out bound tourism also has been on the increase and I am happy to note that when last three years are considered, there had been unprecedented increase of Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai is in a way peaks it all and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau will introduce Sri Lanka through this event, of what Sri Lanka offers to the world, land of smiling faces and hospitality at its best” .

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“Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” - Joint Mega Promotion Enters Shanghai to Attract Chinese Visitors to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tourism is all set to execute the second Joint Mega Promotion campaign in China called “Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai ”, which will be launched in the Shanghai City from the 01st to 06th July 2014 followed by the major success of its first event held in Beijing last year. This Joint Mega Promotion campaign with joint efforts from Public and Private sectors has been initiated under the advice of H.E the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The joint mega promotional campaign, an event organized in combination of the Public and Private sectors of the Sri Lanka is coming to China for the second time following the success of the first phase of this campaign held in Beijing last year.

The event is organized under the guidance of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, the Minister of Economic Development who will grace the event in Shanghai with his presence at “Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” joint mega promotional campaign.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Mr. Bhashwara Gunarathna, and Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Mr. Rummy Jauffer along with Sri Lankan Travel agents, Tour Operators, Hoteliers and Government Organisations will represent tourism industry of Sri Lanka at this mega promotional campaign in Shanghai. “Sri Lanka Shines in Shanghai” joint mega promotional campaign held under the guidance of Ministry of Economic Development is heavily backed by Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing and Sri Lankan Consulate General in Shanghai.

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Sri Lanka Tourism Arrivals Increase 20.3% in May 2014

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals recorded a growth of 20.3 % in May 2014 compared to the same period in year 2013. During the month of May, 2014 recorded 90,046 tourists arrivals in the country compared to the 74,838 arrived in May 2013 which is highest in foreign tourist history for month of May .

The cumulative total of foreign tourist arrival for first five months of 2014 is 624,178 giving record of a 26.5 percent increase from the 493,294 came during the corresponding period in 2013.

Most of the tourists arrived from Western Europe with 200,605 tourist arrivals in the first five months of this year recording an 18 % increase over corresponding 2013 figures. France recording 31.2%, Germany 22.6% followed by UK topped the list of Western Europe. Arrivals from South Asia, the other region from where most of the tourists come, increased by 19.4 percent in the year with 145,373 tourists visiting the island while, arrivals from India increased 22.3 percent to 64,327 in May.

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Sri Lanka Wins “Best Booth Design Award” at the Korea World Travel Fair 2014

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau bagged the “Best Booth Design Award” at Korea’s largest international travel fair, Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) held last week in Seoul from 29th May to June 01st, 2014. Sri Lanka Tourism stall stood elegant at the exhibition, with grand décor of culture, beaches, wild life, festivals, water sports, Buddhist attractions of Sri Lanka. Among the crowd of visitors that attracted the stall were the representatives from national tourist organizations, tour operators, tour & travel agents, and online travel agencies. More than 60 countries participated for KOTFA this year representing Asia, Europe, Oceania, America, Africa and Middle East. Destinations such as Russia, Malaysia, China, Egypt, Thailand, Maldives, Sweden, Kuwait, South Africa, India were among the international participants at the KOTFA 2014.

For the second consecutive year, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau together with representatives from the travel and hotel industry in Sri Lanka participated at the KOTFA Travel fair 2014. Sri Lanka Mission in Seoul facilitated the participation of Sri Lanka Tourism at the event.

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Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Strategy Leads Emerging Markets to Change the Tourism Mosaic of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tourism arrivals domain has been changed by the emerging new markets occupying the place of long held traditional dominant markets according to the arrival statistics issued for January 2014. This can be seen as an effective result of the strategic promotional campaigns executed in year 2013, giving much focus on the identified emerging markets than totally relying on the traditional European markets for growth.

The growth factors of the emerging markets compared with 2013 January vs. 2014 January, recorded extremely high levels of improvement. According to the latest arrival figures, the highly focused emerging markets such as China has gained 3rd place, Russia move up to 4th place while India remaining at 01st followed by Ukraine, Australia as graphically illustrated .

Arrivals from East Asia increased to 95.6% with arrivals from China recording a significant 224% growth. South Asia recorded 14.6% growth with India contributing the highest number of arrivals 17,886 up from 16,938 with 5.6% rise. The arrivals from traditional Western European market though relatively low to emerging markets recorded 17.9% growth while UK recording 13.6% increase. However Eastern Europe arrivals have increased by 63.6% as a result of effective, targeted, well designed promotional campaigns executed in those countries. Russia leads the arrivals board from East Europe recording 91.6% growth . Other regions also scored high levels of growth namely Australasia scoring 15.1% ,USA recording 31.5% and North America with 22.4% growth levels.

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