Walker Tours, one the largest destination management operators in the country, is to increase the domestic tourism component of its turnover from below 5% at present, to 10% - 15% by end 2010.
“The contribution to our turnover by domestic tourism is at present insignificant. It is below 5% of total turnover. But we hope to expand this to 10% to 15% of turnover within this year and 2010,” Sector head of the Inbound Sector at John Keells Holdings, Vasantha Leelananda told The Sunday Times FT.
Walker Tours, which is part of the in-bound leisure sector of the country's largest listed conglomerate, John Keells Holdings, officially launched a domestic tourism programme this week. The company is targeting locals and Sri Lankans living abroad.
The tour company said the return to domestic consumers is not only because of the downturn in international tourism. “This is not necessarily because of the downturn in international tourism. In fact we are very optimistic about international tourism, because operators that pulled out of the country due to security concerns are now returning to us and making inquires about 2009, 2010. So we see huge opportunities for Sri Lanka, despite the global meltdown,” said Mr Leelananda.
The company says that once the domestic situation stabilises, Sri Lanka can also benefit from the “fall-out” from more expensive destinations. With people all over the world tightening their budgets in the face of the global economic downturn, tour operators are hoping to increase business by positioning Sri Lanka as a value for money destination.
Through its new domestic tourism initiative, Walkers is offering a host of tourism opportunities for Sri Lankans, ranging from nature based tourism, like whale watching and leopard watching, to senior citizens’ tours, to customised tour packages. The company also has a separate website for domestic operations that provides online tour booking and payment gateway facilities.
Sri Lankans living abroad can give a gift of a tour package to their parents or grandparents, like a cultural package, to visit the ancient sites in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla. Or they can arrange a nature tour, or even request a customised tour,” said Manager, Walker Tours, Chitral Jayatilake.
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