CHARTER flights from the UK, Netherlands and Scandinavia to Sri Lanka are on the way as TUI and Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence Travels renew old ties.
TUI and Aitken Spence have confirmed weekly charter flights for winter 2016, said Madubhani Perera, director/marketing at Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
Nalin Jayasundera, managing director of Aitken Spence Travels, said: “Aitken Spence Travels last worked with TUI more than a decade ago.
“Aitken Spence will provide these tourists with options for round-island tours, beach stays with excursions, or a combination of both.”
These charters are one of more upcoming flights to link Sri Lanka and Europe, as SLTPB yesterday started discussions with Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary, Eurowings, to commence twice-weekly charter flights from Cologne to Colombo in summer 2016, and with Austrian Airlines for scheduled flights between the two countries beginning 1H16.
National flag carrier SriLankan Airlines will also start codesharing operations with AirBerlin for daily Berlin-Colombo flights from March 27, said Kaushal Seneviratne, regional manager for UK, Europe & North America of the airline.
“The European market is an important one for Sri Lanka as the average traveller spends 10-14 days in the destination, as compared with Asians who stay three-four days,” said Perera.
To further increase the length of stay, SLTPB is promoting new destinations on the east coast to Europe, including Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Nilaveli, Arugam Bay, and UNESCO World Heritage Site Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
It will also organise a roadshow to six major German cities in 2H15 to promote to consumers and trade alike. Germany is Sri Lanka’s second largest European market and welcomed 20 per cent more German tourists in 2014 than in the year before.
Read more stories in TTG Asia-ITB Berlin 2015 Daily
