Jetwing begins Rs.550 m property in Kandy
Jetwing Symphony will be commencing work on the construction of its upmarket property in Kandy next month with an investment of Rs.550 million.
“We are planning on Jetwing Symphony starting construction on 22 suites on Jetwing Kandy Gallery in mid July and by end of 2019 it will be operational,” Jetwing Chairman Hiran Cooray told the Business Times. The investment in the property would be Rs.550 million.
He noted that the since Kandy does not have many high end properties “we feel there is space for a luxury property to complement Jetwing Kanduruketha, Jetwing Surf in Pottuvil and Jetwing Vil Uyana.”
In this respect the property is set to attract upmarket clients from the key European markets like UK, Germany and France including high end clientele from countries like India and China.
In India, Mr. Cooray noted they have a wedding and incentive market and the Chinese market is still catering to the lowest end.
They hope to cater to the more high net worth travellers from markets like even Japan and Australia as well.
The Jetwing Chairman also noted that they believe Australia to be a “very important market”
due to the direct flights operational now and the influx of Aussies and Sri Lankan diaspora visiting the country.
Commenting on the industry’s continued interest in catering to a high end clientele and creating the destination in that manner, he explained that due to the lack of proper promotional campaigns since the end of the conflict in 2009 Sri Lanka has been receiving only bloggers and instagrammers catering to the younger market.
He pointed out that while they need to cater to this cli- entele as well it must be understood that these type of visitors patronise the informal sector and not formal accommodation like hotels.
“If we position the market properly then we could have more high net worth travellers coming in,” Mr. Cooray said.
Positioning the market would mean creating an image in the mind of the travellers of what Sri Lanka has to offer and who it caters to, he explained adding that today on the contrary “the high net worth individuals are not looking at Sri Lanka.” (SD)