SIA signs deal to promote Sri Lanka Tourism

Singapore Airlines and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly promote tourism to Sri Lanka through the airline’s services to Colombo.

The one-year agreement, which took effect from 1 April 2011, will see Singapore Airlines and SLTPB jointly funding tourism promotion activities such as familiarisation trips targeting trade partners, international media and overseas markets.



Key markets in the agreement include Australia, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and China. Under the partnership, both parties will also provide each other with branding opportunities in their proprietary marketing channels.

The longest-serving foreign airline operating to Colombo, Singapore Airlines has been providing air services between Sri Lanka and Singapore for more than 40 years. Last year, Singapore Airlines celebrated its 40th year in Sri Lanka and introduced the new Airbus A330-300 on the route. The airline currently operates daily services between Singapore and Colombo.

“Sri Lanka was named the ‘Number 1 Travel Destination in 2010’ by The New York Times and offers visitors a wealth of attractions. The forming of this strategic partnership with SLTPB is testament to our strong commitment to the Sri Lankan market. With Singapore Airlines’ extensive network, I am confident that more travellers will explore and experience what Sri Lanka has to offer, such as its pristine beaches, beautiful national parks and mountains,” said Mak Swee Wah, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President Commercial.

Commenting on the new agreement, the Acting Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Malraj Kiriella said: “By entering into this agreement, both Singapore Airlines and Sri Lanka Tourism hope to work on a common platform to promote our product offerings for travellers around the world. It is indeed a win-win situation for both SIA and SLTPB, especially when we look at the benefits we can reap in the long run.”

When Singapore Airlines was formed in 1972, it operated a modest fleet of 10 aircraft to just 22 cities in 18 countries. With a commitment to fleet modernisation, product and service innovation and market leadership, the Airline quickly distinguished itself as a world-class carrier.

Today, Singapore Airlines operates a modern passenger fleet of more than 100 aircraft and its network, including Singapore Airlines Cargo and SilkAir destinations, currently covers a total of 101 destinations in 40 countries.

In October 2007, Singapore Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance, made aviation history again as the first to fly the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau was established by Act No. 38 of 2005 by Parliament of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as one of the organisations under the then Ministry of Tourism. At present, it comes under the Ministry of Economic Development headed by Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

The main objective of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is marketing and promoting Sri Lanka directly and indirectly as a tourist and travel destination and also promoting Sri Lanka as the gateway to the South Asian region.

It closely works with the Sri Lankan travel industry stakeholders to promote Sri Lanka overseas and attract 2.5 million tourists by 2016 as per the President’s vision.