Sri Lanka reveals record luxury hotel development, increases rank as short-haul destination for Middle East tourists

The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, Deputy Minister of Tourism said 20 new hotels & accommodation units had opened in Sri Lanka during the past year, further marking Sri Lanka as one of Asia's best kept secrets. Another 232 hotels - equaling a staggering 20,445 new rooms - are also in the pipeline and due to open during the next two years.

"Sri Lanka hotels are increasingly on the international radar for their mix of lavish accommodation and friendly service with a beautiful backdrop of stunning lush scenery and wildlife. For Middle East travelers who are used to a more opulent lifestyle, Sri Lanka now offers a getaway to suit their quality, tastes and needs - all only four to five hours from most Gulf airports."

Sri Lanka Tourist Board Additional Director General Dileep Mudadeniya added: "Sri Lanka's pristine beauty has been a magnet for some of the biggest names in luxury resorts from the Taj Hotel Group to Hilton and Aman resorts (with Hyatt coming up soon), as well as a recent influx of trendy independent boutique hotels and private villas," he said.

In recent news, two key hotels, The Park Street Hotel in Colombo and The Fort Printers in the popular coastal region of Galle were ranked on the renowned CondeNast Traveller's Hot Hotels list for 2007. The southern coastal hotel, The Beach House Hotel, was also named by UK Tattler magazine as 'the best beach house on earth'.

Mr. Mudadeniya said that the island's hotel offerings included luxury spa resorts combining deluxe accommodation with a truly peaceful luxury vacation. Along with our Sri Lanka Luxury Spa Resorts collection, the Sri Lankan Tourist Board also worked with operators to package Sri Lanka Intimate Hotels, Sri Lanka Honeymoon Hotels, Sri Lanka Romantic Hotels, Sri Lanka Safari Lodges and Sri Lanka Wedding Hotels. Golfers can also find a luxury golf vacation in Sri Lanka or a luxury golf holiday in Sri Lanka.

Dining and shopping were also world-class. Tourism operators such as 'SriLanka Instyle' have also focused on catering to the needs of visitors seeking a luxury holiday by offering integrated packages incorporating private jets, helicopters, private retreats, adventure sports, wildlife adventures, gemstone/fashion shopping and world-class events such as international cricket or major golfing tournaments or cultural events.