India’s fastest-growing upcoming player in the hospitality industry specialized in wedding tourism, Royal Orchid Hotels Limited (ROHL), having 75 properties in the hotel chain will commence negotiations with Sri Lankan property owners who has a banquet capacity to facilitate over 250 covers with about 50 rooms within premise to host foreign weddings in Sri Lanka.
He said each wedding will have two to three days stays while there is probability that some will stay for more days after the occasion. ROHL would also negotiate with them to undertake overall management with an assurance of 80% occupancy said Fernando.
Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Priantha Fernando at a Media Gathering held at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management auditorium, said that Royal Orchid is not only promoting weddings in India but across Europe and some other countries whereas our destination is also included in their wide scale promotions.
Fernando said they just concluded final negotiations with SLTDA to expand their operations in Sri Lanka. Currently, ROHL operates a mix of managed, franchised, and owned properties. ROHL and its Regenta brand have scheduled to open 26 new properties in 2023 while Sri Lanka is also in its list.
He said that Sri Lanka will promote the island nation as the best and safe wedding destination as there is a huge potential for this segment in the country to other markets as well.
“We will also promote specific tourism segments such as Marine Tourism, advanced Wellness Tourism coupled with Ayurveda & Indigenous Medication along with 14 other segmented tourism themes,” he said.
“In terms of marine tourism steps has been taken to promote Pasikuda as its sea condition is almost good for 9 months, Kalpitiya being recognised as the 10th best Kite Surfing destination in the world, Arugambay as best for Windsurfing and around the country in the coastal belt there is some uniqueness to boast.
He said the SLTDA together with SLTPB is projecting Sri Lanka as a Year Round Destination and a Value for Money Destination.
Chairman said there are 154 classified hotels in Sri Lanka with a formal room capacity of 50,000 along with another 30,000 in the informal sector such as Home Stay and Guest Houses and within it about 10,000 rooms aresuitable for high end upmarket tourists.
“At the moment we are comfortable with the available upmarket room capacity, but number has to be increased to promote more high-end tourists,” he said.
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