Sri Lanka to promote nautical tourism through Ceylon Shipping Corporation and Sri Lanka Yachting
Daily News: Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd (CSC) joined with Sail Lanka Yachting Group to embark on a journey together in developing and promoting nautical tourism, cruising and yachting as well as establishing a passenger transport system by ferries.
Initial focus would be to develop the Northern Province of Sri Lanka which is rich in tremendous untapped potential for tourism and its development.
Wineendra Weeraman, the Chairman of Ceylon Shipping Corporation and Kaushal Rajapakse, the Managing Director of Sail Lanka Yachting Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the CSC premises recently to fasten the business relationships between the two entities envisaging to strengthen it with an agency agreement that will be executed in due course.
By developing growth strategies of this industry there is a greater potential to attract local and foreign tourists, benefitting and enriching the local economy with foreign currency,” said Weeraman.
“I am eager and ambitious to embark on a passenger transport service along the Coastal belt of the lsland Nation and also amongst neighboring countries like lndia, Maldives etc.”
Pierre Pringiers, the former Consul of the Honorary Consulate of Belgium in Sri Lanka, is the mastermind behind the iconic group “Sail Lanka Yachting Group”, which was launched in 2014.
Sail Lanka Yachting Group designs luxury catamarans, manufactures catamarans using the latest technologies and exports internationally. “Sail Lanka Yachting Group’ also charters luxury cruises around the country envisaging to launch in Maldives in near future,” he said.
Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd., being the national carrier under the purview of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, has been serving as a ship owner, operator, manager and charterer for five decades has earned an in-depth experience and tacit knowledge in marine and nautical fields.
CSC also possesses expertise in both local and international regulatory operational and safety permits and procedural framework of the industry.
This includes knowledge about the different permits/approvals of the territorial and coastal waters, harbors and moorings.
CSC in or around 2011, had a cruise service coupled with passenger and cargo transport between Colombo and Tuticorine, which came to a standstill due to few operational setbacks beyond its control.
Sail Lanka Yachting Group is the mother company of Solar Impulse, Sail Lanka Charter, BAFF Polymech and Sabrosa Rain Advance Technologies, a young pioneering group of companies specialized in all aspects.
This Group is designing (SRAT), building and exporting modern professional catamarans (Yachts, floating hotels, excursion boats), small ferries, rigid-hull inflatables boats (RHIBS) and amphibious boats (BAFF Polymech).
The group is also developing infrastructures, running marinas and mini marinas and it has been pioneering nautical tourism by offering day and multi day charter and adventurers and relaxed excursions to tourists in Sri Lanka, for the last 5 years with a fleet of ten locally built sailing catamarans.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country when the global Covid 19 pandemic brought about global travel restrictions. However, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is once again on the path to recovery with a steady growth in tourist arrivals to the country. Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities have also launched an aggressive tourism promotional campaign to boost the industry while also exploring new tourism concepts to woo foreign travellers. With Sri Lanka’s airports receiving the internationally recognised safety and hygiene certifications and Sri Lanka slotting among the Top 10 island destinations have made the island an attractive post Covid travel destination. Given the growth momentum and expansion in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, foreign businesses/investors could explore the growing opportunities in the industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20211025/Z_8 |