The Hindu Business Line : Maldives ties up with SriLankan for tourism package

In an exclusive tie-up with SriLankan Airlines to promote the country as a favoured tourist destination, Maldiveshas announced that it would be launching a package to attract high networth Indian tourists to its picturesque island resorts.

Leisure or business travellers could combine their holiday and shopping visits to Maldives and Sri Lanka under the package being worked out by the two countries.

Maldives attracts 80 per cent of its tourists from Europe, Japan and Far East.

Attracting Indians

According to Mr Abdul Hameed Zakariyya, Deputy Minister of Maldives Tourism, this was the first time that Maldives had actively started promoting itself here, as he felt there was an immense tourism potential from India. Tourism is Maldives' main industry contributing about 20 per cent of the GDP. Fisheries and trade follow close behind.

At a meeting here, organised jointly by the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board and SriLankan Airlines on `Investment & Tourism Prospects in Maldives', Mr Zakariyya said with regional tourism gaining in strength, dual destinations offer additional value to the budget and itinerary of the modern traveller.

Mr Chandana De Silva, Head of Corporate Communications, SriLankan Airlines, said that `shop-over-package' could consist of a week's tour with a couple of nights stay in Colombo. He said the details of the airfare and other offers would be finalised soon.

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