Kuoni puts faith in Sri Lanka with new additions to Indian Ocean programme

The operator said the destination, which is still recovering from the 2022 economic crisis that saw food and fuel shortages, had seen a resurgence in the last three months with bookings for next January and February particularly strong.

Another 11 hotels in Sri Lanka have been added as part of Kuoni’s Indian Ocean launch. They include the Hide Ella Hotel & Resort in the hill country, built into a 60-degree slope in Ella Gap. 

Kuoni said it aimed to grow sales through the trade “and put the spotlight on the destination with new marketing activity”. It has just appointed G Touring’s Sarah Weetman to lead its trade sales team and Caroline Child, marketing programmes director at Travelopia, as new marketing chief.

Elsewhere in Sri Lanka, Kuoni has focused on adding boutique hotels, including Haritha Villas & Spa near Galle, which boasts seven contemporary villas and two colonial mansions plus butler service. In addition, the refurbished Jetwing Safari Camp is back in the programme.

Kuoni’s Mauritius range has also been expanded with three new hotels offering private pool villas. Kuoni said it had seen a rise in customers choosing to stay in more than one hotel in Mauritius.

An addition is Le Jadis Beach & Wellness Resort, a luxury boutique property managed by Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts located close to the Turtle Bay marine National Park.

In the Seychelles, Kuoni has made island hopping easier with a new hotel on La Digue, with a beachfront boutique hotel overlooking Praslin.

Monique Williams, Kuoni’s long-haul programme manager, said: “We have added range to our programme offering popular trending requests such as hotels that offer flexible dining options, wellness focuses, seclusion with private pool villas and a wider choice of options for families.”