The Hindu Business Line : Walkers Tours to woo more Indian tourists to Sri Lanka

WITH India expected to account for the largest number of visitors to Sri Lanka this year, the Colombo-based destination management company Walkers Tours is all set to leverage the potential of the Indian market.

As part of this effort, the company is in the process of establishing a presence in India, said Mr Amith Sumanapala, Director, Walkers Tours.

He told Business Line that the company has already appointed a representative in New Delhi and will soon have representatives in Mumbai and Bangalore. A representative office in Chennai is also likely, he added.

When asked whether the company will eventually set up full-fledged offices in India, Mr Sumanapala replied that it would "invest as much as required depending on the response." The company has created a portfolio of holiday packages for Indian visitors, including several packages for Jet Airways under the `Jet Escapes' brand. Besides, the company has set up a separate division for visitors from India, he pointed out.

To create greater awareness of the Walkers Tours brand in India, the company will participate in various travel marts in the country, he said. Also on the cards, is an advertising campaign to build brand awareness through Indian travel publications, Mr Sumanapala explained.

Of the 1.92 lakh people who have visited Sri Lanka in the first five months of this year, over 30,000 were from India while 38,000 were from the UK, he said. And with Sri Lanka expected to witness a 20 per cent growth in visitor arrivals in 2004, the company expects the number of visitors from India to grow much faster in the coming months. Part of Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keels Holdings, which has interests in hospitality, transportation, real estate, financial services, food and beverages and information technology, Walkers Tours is believed to be one of Sri Lanka's largest destination management .