Destinations 39


South Africa has 11 national languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu


SOUTH AFRICA A South Africa Pavilion / AF6140


One of the world’s most popular visitor destina- tions, South Africa’s natural wonders are scat- tered far and wide. From Cape Town’s famed Table Mountain to the stunning coastline, amaz- ing wildlife and rolling plains, there’s no end to the Rainbow Nation’s charms. Kruger National Park is a major draw for


visitors keen for an up-close and personal experience with incredible wildlife including South Africa’s ‘big five’ — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros. The scenic Route 62, between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, has also been recently named by CNN Travel as the world’s best road-trip destination. Meanwhile, the Cape Winelands also offer


plenty of beautiful natural landscapes to explore, with fertile valleys flanked by moun- tains, villages and lush scenery. The town of Stellenbosch, which dates back to 1679, remains a popular draw for connoisseurs with over 200 grape producers in the valley.


Kruger National Park is a major draw for visitors keen for an up-close experience with wildlife including South Africa’s ‘big five’ — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros


Well-known for being a nation of music lovers,


there are plenty of festivals for both locals and visitors to enjoy throughout the year. Among them are the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Ultra South Africa and Mielepop. The country’s busy calendar in 2017 has also featured the popu- lar SA Fashion Week in Johannesburg in March. The Mastercard Global Destinations Cities


Index 2016 listed Johannesburg and Cape Town as the first and third most-visited destinations in Africa respectively, boasting 3.6 million and 1.37 million overnight travellers — with each city notching a 6.2 percent increase on 2015. The relaxation of visa rules has added to the


recent boom for the tourism industry. Govern- ment body Statistics South Africa reported a huge 66.1 percent increase in Chinese visitors in August 2016 compared with August 2015, while Spanish tourist numbers went up 51.5 percent. A host of big-name hotel brands are poised


to mark their presence in the country with The Silo Cape Town and The Old Rectory in Pletten- berg Bay opening this year. Adding to the offer- ing, 2018 is set to see the opening of Cape Town Marriott Hotel Foreshore and Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Town Foreshore. In 2016, South African finance minister


Pravin Gordhan announced that US$18.9 billion (R250 billion) would be allocated for the coun- try’s energy investments and US$22.1 billion (R292 billion) for transport and logistics infra- structure over the next few years.


Cape Town


Kruger National Park


Sri Lanka gained independence from Great Britain in 1948. Previously known as Ceylon, the country also had Dutch and Portuguese presences dating back to the 16th


century SRI LANKA Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau / AS3150


This breathtaking tropical island nation boasts no fewer than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the old town of Galle and the sacred city of Kandy. Known as ‘The Pearl of the Indian Ocean’,


the country is renowned for its unspoilt scenery that includes verdant hills, pristine beaches and 1,330 kilometres of coastline. Visitors can marvel at these natural wonders, as well as exploring the region’s 15 national parks, 500,000 acres of lush-tea estates, 250 acres of botanical gardens and 350 waterfalls. Sri Lanka has enjoyed a rapid rise as a tourist


destination in recent years, boasting a signifi- cant jump from 650,000 annual visitors in 2010 to two million in 2016. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is aiming to build on that momentum and has in mind a target of 2.5 million arrivals in 2017. That figure looks more than achievable as January alone saw 219,000 visitors — an increase of 12.9 percent on last year.


With a tourism campaign that promotes the


island as a ‘Wonder of Asia’, Sri Lanka offers travellers a plethora of things to see and do, including whale watching, hot air ballooning, spice tours, scuba diving and trips around the bustling capital Colombo. The nation is now also targeting the inter-


national MICE market and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau has been established to entice business and event planners — championing the country as an affordable, accessible and modern alter- native to more traditional global destinations. Bolstering its infrastructure to manage the


increase in visitors, Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo is undergoing a US$600 million (LKR91.2 billion) expansion. The major project, which will add a new multi-level termi- nal building, aims to create 30,000 jobs and will allow the airport to handle 15 million passen- gers annually when work is completed in 2020. Meanwhile, the country’s hospitality indus-


Sri Lanka has enjoyed a rapid rise as a tourist destination, boasting a significant jump from 650,000 annual visitors in 2010 to two million in 2016


try is also growing in an effort to meet the increasing tourism demand. Hotels scheduled to open in Sri Lanka this year include two new properties in the capital — Shangri-La Colombo and Sheraton Colombo. Also on the horizon, the beautiful shore-


line property of Amari Galle is set to open its doors in the second quarter of this year while the luxurious Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort is due to open in November 2017 in the coastal town of Kosgoda.


Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress


Kandy Lake at sunrise


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We look forward to welcoming you to our stand HC0260


DUKES DUBAI Hotel invites you to discover British Hospitality on the Palm Jumeirah


DD ATM AMended HP.pdf 1 4/5/17 10:42 AM


DD ATM AMended HP.pdf 1 4/5/17 10:42 AM


DUKES DUBAI Hotel invites you to discover British Hospitality on the Palm Jumeirah


We look forward to welcoming you to our stand HC0260


@dukesdubai


@dukes.dubai


@DUKESDUBAI


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