India remains the key market for Sri Lanka, which is now promoting spiritual tourism via the Ramayana trail, according to Richard Nuttall, CEO of Sri Lanka Airlines. Nuttall made these remarks during the launch of 'The Ramayana Trail' at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Delhi. The initiative is designed to enhance tourism from India and introduce a fresh attraction for visitors. SriLankan Airlines has introduced a special Ramayana trail package tailored for Indian tourists. This package covers the locations in Sri Lanka where Lord Rama, Sita, and Hanuman's legendary adventures took place. The Ramayana trail encompasses 20 pivotal sites in Sri Lanka, each intricately linked to the Ramayana narrative.
Currently, the airline operates 88 flights weekly to nine Indian destinations: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trivandrum, Chennai, Trichy, and Madurai. Kshenuka Senewiratne, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, also attended the event. She noted that approximately 20 percent of tourists visiting Sri Lanka are from India. Despite facing challenges, the tourism sector is demonstrating robust growth, exceeding pre-COVID levels. Efforts are being made to revitalize Indian tourism and draw visitors to less frequented destinations beyond Colombo and Kandy.
Nuttall further added, "We are thrilled to re-enter the India market with this unique set of Ramayana Trail excursions, which are sure to motivate travellers to discover Sri Lanka in a new light. India is our most significant market in terms of connected cities and flight frequencies. We are confident that this initiative will bolster our future expansion plans and present Sri Lanka as a destination deeply intertwined with their spiritual and cultural heritage."
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