Jetwing Hotels, a trusted name in Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism landscape, is known for creating spaces seamlessly integrated with the natural environment and a genuine commitment to sustainability. As Sri Lanka prepares itself to attract an increasing number of tourists and travellers from India, Hashan Cooray, Director, Marketing and Development, Jetwing Hotels, candidly shares insights into the unique features, offerings, initiatives, and opportunities of the hospitality brand.
– Sonika Bohra
Q. With the Sri Lankan government approving free visas for Indians, how is this decision going to impact outbound travel demand from India to Sri Lanka?
This is a very progressive decision to attract more visitors across several key source markets, with India leading the way. We expect to see a significant increase in arrivals from India with this move, regardless of the individual visitor’s spending power. Given our geographical proximity, the visa fee is a deterrent that can make a potential traveller have second thoughts, especially if they’re planning to visit for just a few days. Now, it’s only a matter of booking the flights and accommodation, and it should be as convenient as travelling to a destination within India. We hope to see all Indian travellers thinking of Sri Lanka as a very safe and convenient destination to travel to, with great hotels and experiences, inspiring everyone to keep coming back for more!
Q. How has the year 2023 been for you in terms of growth and recovery? Have you attained the pre-pandemic demand levels?
Thankfully, we have had steady growth this year after four terrible years. We have already surpassed pre-pandemic demand levels, as Sri Lanka suffered a severe blow in 2019, too. Our benchmark now is the previous year, 2018, and early 2019. Since July 2023, we have been averaging over 75 per cent of our occupancy and revenue for the year. If this trend continues, we expect 2024 to be the best year in the history of Sri Lankan tourism, which comes at a fitting time as our country is now on a positive journey of recovering from the economic crisis, and tourism will play a vital role in propelling the economy as a whole.
Q. Indian weddings have become a key segment for hotels and destinations. What kind of potential do you see in the Indian wedding segment?
With Sri Lanka’s proximity to major Indian cities, it is an ideal destination for Indian weddings, be it on the beaches around the island, in lush gardens in the central regions, or in any of the decadent halls of the iconic hotels.
At Jetwing, we see a lot of potential for smaller, high-value weddings with both resident and non-resident Indian guests. This year, we had two weddings at Jetwing Saman Villas, one of Sri Lanka’s premier luxury boutique hotels, which was difficult to imagine a few years ago. Previously, we have handled many weddings at our resorts in Negombo (Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Beach) and Jetwing Lighthouse in Galle. This shows the immense potential available for all Sri Lankan resorts to target specific niches in the wedding market so that the island is positioned as a destination for premier weddings, with great options available for celebrations of all sizes.
Q. Please throw some light on what makes your properties different from competitors.
One key area that differentiates Jetwing from the rest is our commitment to sustainability. We have been recognised both locally and globally for the initiatives we have taken with a genuine intention of taking care of our local communities and preserving the environment.
The designs of our properties stand out. Each of our over 30 properties is unique and suited to the surroundings, with hotels and villas designed by Sri Lanka’s leading architects, Geoffrey Bawa, Vinod Jayasinghe, Murad Ismail, and Sunela Jayawardene, among others, and the international expertise of Sim Boon from Singapore, who designed Jetwing Colombo Seven.
And finally, our primary competitive advantage is the amazing people at Jetwing. All around the island, we have amazing teams who are committed to showcasing the best of authentic Sri Lankan hospitality to our guests, with the guidance and leadership of our team of managers.
As a whole, Jetwing Hotels is a brand committed to responsible tourism while offering legendary Sri Lankan hospitality, with a legacy spanning over 50 years. Each of our properties is unique, embracing its own identity, with a deeply rooted commitment to empower our local communities and care for the surrounding environment.
Q. Sustainability has become key in the post-COVID world. What are the sustainable tourism measures that you are taking in your hotels?
At Jetwing Hotels, we follow a six-pillar sustainability strategy that aligns with the United Nations SDGs. Across our properties, we have numerous initiatives under each of these pillars. Our six areas of focus are energy and carbon, water and waste, biodiversity, community and culture, sourcing and production, and family.
A few measures to highlight are the Jetwing Youth Development Programme, where we have trained and recruited over 1,200 underprivileged youth around the island (free of charge) since 2006; the creation of a man-made wetland at Jetwing Vil Uyana from a former abandoned paddy field, which is now a thriving habitat for numerous species of birds, mammals, and reptiles (and, of course, humans); 100 per cent renewable energy powered associate kitchen at four hotels (Jetwing Blue, Jetwing Yala, Jetwing Lake, and Jetwing Kaduruketha), which caters to nearly 1,000 people at every meal; producing our own renewable energy through solar PV, biomass, and biogas – each having its own positive impacts; and our own water bottling plants around the island, where we fill and reuse over 450,000 glass bottles a year, reducing over 4,500 kg of single-use plastics.
Our guiding philosophy for the work we do in sustainability was instilled in our company by my grandfather, the late Herbert Cooray, founder of Jetwing. He believed that tourism could not exist in isolation, and there had to be a benefit to the local communities. Today, we formulated his thinking into a structured framework and carried on his legacy and vision for Sri Lankan tourism, inspiring more generations of travellers to make responsible decisions on their holidays on our paradise island.
Q. What are your expectations for the coming year?
As I mentioned previously, we expect 2024 to be our best year yet. India will continue to be our primary source market, and we are confident that further decisions will be taken to make travel from India to Sri Lanka more convenient and hassle-free. As a company, we are also embarking on a beachfront residential development located just across the international airport, which makes it a lucrative investment opportunity for Indians who are looking at a promising investment overseas. We are also developing a beach club in Negombo, along with a tea factory and experience centre in Welimada. Additionally, we have some plans for next year to make significant changes to a few properties, making them more appealing to travellers from around the world.
Sri Lanka is finally coming back strong, and we hope to see more sustainable development in the country with the creation of new and exciting experiences to cater to the needs of modern-day travellers.
