Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Newxplorer.com Launches to Provide Customized Luxury Travel to Sri Lanka

Newxplorer.com Launches to Provide Customized Luxury travel to Sri Lanka

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D&J Ventures launches luxury travel firm, making the magic of Sri Lanka accessible to North American travelers

Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 20, 2011

D&J Ventures, a Washington, DC-based enterprise, announces the launch of Newxplorer.com, a client-focused company specializing in customized luxury travel to the enchanting island of Sri Lanka.
Renowned for the 13th-century explorations of Marco Polo, arguably the world's first adventure traveler, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean is now being discovered-and embraced-by modern travelers. The New York Times named Sri Lanka the #1 Place to Go in 2010 and the National Geographic Channel recently ranked it as the #2 World's Best Island, distinctions that recognize the rich array of adventure, cultural, and leisure opportunities travelers can experience in one extraordinary destination.

Sri Lanka's wealth of attractions indulge a variety of interests and travel preferences. The island boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including a Dutch fort, two biosphere reserves, and ruins from five cliff-top citadels of ancient 2,500-year-old kingdoms. Pristine stretches of sandy white beaches kiss the azure waters of the Indian Ocean under glowing orange sunsets. Fascinating wildlife-leopards, more than 400 bird species, and the world's two largest mammals, the elephant and the blue whale-roam the land, flit through the trees, and swim the waters. A vibrant culture celebrates a mélange of religions and historical influences that emerge in everything from the cuisine to the art to the architecture. Shopping districts showcase some of the world's finest gemstones, including the famous Sri Lankan (Ceylon) sapphire.

"There is a feeling of adventure when you visit Sri Lanka," says Dular Niyangoda, founder and president of Newxplorer.com. "When you walk the beaches, hike the tropical forests, and explore the ancient wonders, it's as if you are discovering a world unspoiled by modern civilization. You feel yourself stepping back in time and can easily imagine how Marco Polo experienced the island over eight centuries ago."

Niyangoda should know. Born in Sri Lanka, but a resident of Washington, DC, for more than 20 years, he's been returning to his homeland almost every year, exploring its host of treasures and watching it change, while marveling how much it remains the same.

The country's attractions combined with the dynamic culture, friendly people, environmental consciousness, delicious food steeped in the "locavore" tradition, world-class lodging, modern medical facilities, and a reputation as unchartered terroritory makes Sri Lanka a destination that should be at the top of everyone's bucket list.

"Sri Lanka offers an unparalleled travel experience. My goal in forming Newxplorer.com was to help travelers easily access the wonders of the country. Even in the era of the internet, it can be difficult and time-consuming to thoroughly research a travel destination. There are so many sites offering diverging comments from people you don't know. We want to take some of the guess work out of planning your Sri Lankan adventure. Whether you want to simply bask on a beach, enjoy a more adventure-filled experience, or focus on food, well-being, or culture-or even a little of everything-we will help you tailor a trip that fulfills your fantasies. Our network of local partners and intimate knowledge enables us to harness all Sri Lanka has to offer and thereby exceed customer expectations."

Newxplorer.com's inaugural Xplore travel packages include Xplore Ancient Kingdoms, Xplore wildlife, Xplore beaches, and Xplore Biodiversity. In addition, Newxplorer.com offers custom options for travelers seeking a more personalized experience. All packages enjoy small groups; flexible dates; luxurious accommodations; English-fluent travel concierges, chauffeurs, and expert guides; and optional excursions that provide a one-of-a-kind travel experience.

About Newxplorer.com
Newxplorer.com is a provider of customized luxury travel to Sri Lanka. The company's Xplore travel packages offer customers variety, flexibility, and unparalleled experiences in Sri Lanka and other exotic destinations worldwide.

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

National Geographic Traveler November/December Issue picks Sri Lanka as One of the Top Best Places to Visit in 2012

Courtesy of National Geographic Traveler
 
Photo: Buddhist ruins
Many of the Buddhist ruins in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa date from the 12th century.
Photograph by Priit Vesilind
The words mean "resplendent isle," and the natural charms of this pear-shaped island in the Indian Ocean that nearly kisses the southeast tip of India are indeed splendid. • Peopled mostly by Sinhalese, the result of waves of Indo-Aryan emigration, the island is mostly flat, with gentle mountains in the south. • The Portuguese and the Dutch once waged proxy wars here; by 1802 the island was a British colony. • This century saw bloody civil war, as the Liberation Tigers, representing minority Tamils, fought the Sinhalese and their domination of politics and economics. • In 2009 the Tigers were vanquished. • Today peace prevails.

Sri Lanka among top emerging travel destinations in the world - World Travel Market 2011 (WTM)

The World Travel Market 2011 Industry Report has highlighted five countries including Sri Lanka as the five emerging counties behind the BRICS nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Sri Lanka was named as it is re-emerging after defeating terrorism, ending Sri Lanka's 30-year conflict, investing in infrastructure and emphasizing its natural beauty.

The Report is based on the findings of two independently conducted surveys in September 2011. World Travel Market has surveyed its key exhibitors and senior buyers (members of its Meridian Club) to discover the central issues for the industry and what will be discussed on the exhibition floor for the four days of World Travel Market (WTM) 2011 (7–10 November).

Sri Lanka has been ranked as the number one tourist destination by the 'New York Times' in its list of "31 Places to Go in 2010".

"The conflict finally ended last May, ushering in a more peaceful era for this teardrop-shaped island off India’s coast, rich in natural beauty and cultural splendours," states the New York Times.

"My intention is to generate environmental friendly sustainable tourism instead of relying only on leisure seeking popular tourism", stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in ‘Mahinda Chintana’, his manifesto to develop the country.

In keeping with this pledge, the Government has done much in the past years to fulfil the needs of the tourism industry. The Government identified tourism as a fast emerging potential growth sector in the economy in terms of foreign exchange earnings, employment creation, infrastructure development and regional development.

The Government intends to win the challenge of attracting tourists as many as 5 million annually. http://www.wtmlondon.com/

Travel + Leisure Ranks Sri Lanka as Number 1 in "Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012"

Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012

Courtesy of Travel + Leisure, January 2012 Issue 
 
Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012: Sri Lanka
Courtesy of Maya Villa

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s lush hill towns and pristine beaches have long appealed to a certain breed of worldly traveler, but the flare-ups of the country’s brutal on-again, off-again 26-year civil war kept all but the most devoted of them away. The conflict ended three years ago, and as a prolonged peace finally takes hold, this Indian Ocean island is on the cusp of a tourism boom.

Sri Lanka’s beach-lined southern coast, centered around the popular town of Bentota, is the country’s strongest draw—and big developers are moving in. The Minor Hotel Group chose the area to debut its sister brand to Anantara with last month’s launch of the 75-room Avani Bentota Resort & Spa (94-34/227-5353; doubles from $180) in a restored Geoffrey Bawa–designed building. A second Avani, a Six Senses resort, and a Shangri-La property are also in the works.

In the meantime, a handful of designers have opened boutique hotels, including the 15-room Villa Bentota (doubles from $224), the latest project from Sri Lankan tastemaker Shanth Fernando. Farther south, in Beliatta, Hong Kong decorator Niki Fairchild has turned a century-old house into the glamorous five-suite Maya (94-47/567-9025; doubles from $170).

In the northwest, an ambitious government scheme aims to transform the Kalpitiya peninsula into the country’s next big resort destination. Until those plans are realized, the laid-back Bar Reef Resort (94-777/352-200; doubles from $125) has airy cabanas and a quiet one-mile beach.

Perhaps the biggest peace dividend has been the reopening of the leopard- and elephant-filled Wilpattu National Park, in the northwest. Stay at the two-year-old Ulagalla Resort (doubles from $374), which has 20 thatched-roof bungalows on 58 acres an hour from the park. —Jennifer Chen