Paradise Resort & Spa hosts OTAs to launch new adventure tourism initiative

The Paradise Resorts & Spa, the Browns Group hotel in Dambulla, recently hosted all leading Online Travel Agency (OTA) staff to a training and inspection visit. The aim of this two-day training session was to increase awareness and educate the OTAs on the area and how best to promote it.

Following the recent downturn in tourist arrivals and in order to attract the growing market for adventure tourism, The Paradise Resorts & Spa, through a partnership with experienced outdoor sports facilitator Adventure Education, will be offering various adventure activities within the resort to provide comprehensive team building programmes to cooperates around the world as well as exciting getaways for families. These activities can include camping, backwoodsman cooking, mountain biking, hiking, ATV rides, archery, air rifles, and paintball. 

This is yet another key initiative by the sales and marketing team of Browns Hotels to increase the global presence of Dambulla on online platforms and thereby attract more people to visit. Browns Hotels’ Head of Sales and Marketing Devin Anshan was on hand to answer any pressing questions OTA staff may have and collect feedback on marketing the destination.

Commenting on efforts to raise Dambulla’s profile Anshan said: “The Dambulla area is beautiful and steeped in the history of our nation but as countries become increasingly more competitive in attracting tourists, we, too, must become more creative in offering incentives for people to visit the area. We believe that our partnership with Adventure Education will help give tourists that extra nudge to visit Dambulla.”

Expressing his thoughts on the location and the initiative from Browns Hotels, Adventure Education founder/Director Training and Operations Raajiv Wanigasekera said: “The area surrounding Paradise Resort is beautiful and perfect for outdoor activities. The resort itself is built to blend in with its surroundings offering very little disruption to the forest and wildlife that inhibit it. This allows us the opportunity to observe and partake in some of Mother Nature’s wonders. This is an opportunity that would be missed at other resorts which disrupt and displace wildlife with buildings that don’t account for nature in their construction.” 

He continued: “I applaud the Browns Hotels Team on this initiative which helps broaden what we offer tourists and further expand our reach internationally to those tourists looking for a little adventure with their vacations – an option they might not have previously looked at Sri Lanka for.”

Wanigasekera served with the elite 4 Armoured Regiment of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps and the Special Forces. He was actively involved in conducting military training at all levels including mission oriented special operations and has held office in various command and staff positions. 

Adventure Education was launched in 2003 as the brainchild of its two founders, both equally passionate to share their love for nature and adventure. Their facilitation has led to the company’s presence in the forefront of its field, with team development activities, adventure and out-of-the-box corporate experiential indoor and outdoor initiatives.

The Paradise Resort & Spa in Dambulla is a lavish fusion of local heritage and modern comfort as it is enchantingly positioned deep in the heart of the nation’s cultural triangle. From the iconic Dambulla Cave Temple to the picturesque Kandalama Reservoir, guests can explore the many different aspects of Sri Lanka. A part of the Browns Hotels & Resorts, Paradise maintains their high standards while keeping a touch of old world charm as well.

Browns Hotels & Resorts is a subsidiary of the Browns Group one of Sri Lanka’s largest diversified conglomerates which manages a fast growing and valuable portfolio of brands across several key industry sectors, such as power generation; home and office solutions; agriculture and plantation support services; pharmaceuticals; investments; marine and manufacturing; and healthcare.