Hayleys Advantis’ partnership with India’s Cordelia Cruises to bring direct tourist income of US$ 18 million in 4 months

By Sanath Nanayakkare

The MS Empress which made its maiden port of call at the Port of Hambantota with 1,600 passengers and crew onboard, is scheduled to make voyages Sri Lanka every week, and is estimated to contribute USD 18 million to the country’s economy in the next four months.

This was revealed by the owner of the cruise ship’s Jurgen Bailom who is an Austrian businessman.

The business plan for the time after the four months will be drawn depending on the upcoming monsoon season.

Jurgen who had been with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for 30-years and now operates his own luxury cruise liner said that he has immense confidence in the potential of Sri Lankan cruise tourism sector and the success of his operations especially because Hayleys Advantis is his face in Sri Lanka.

” I anticipate 80,000 tourist arrivals in the first 4 months alone our operation here in Sri Lanka is forging ahead with Hayleys Advantis appointed as General Sales Agent and Port Agent in Sri Lanka for Cordelia Cruises,” he said.

Leveraging the newly forged partnership with India’s top cruise line Cordelia Cruises, the Advantis team warmly welcomed 1,600 tourists from Chennai, as they made their inaugural stop at the Hambantota International Port.

A mesmerizing dance being perfomed by the cruise ship’s troupe at its state of
the art Marquee Theatre. Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha

Jurgen Bailom especially thanked the Sri Lankan Immigration officials for seamlessly facilitating the disembakation process to allow the visitors to take on their short excursions in and around Hambantota including Udawalawa.

Commenting on the partnership, Advantis Managing Director, Ruwan Waidyaratne said, “As an island nation, Sri Lanka has attracted maritime trade and travel for centuries. However, in the modern age, our nation is yet to leverage its natural advantages to the best of our ability. Through our alliance with Cordelia Cruises, we are able to facilitate the first-ever cruise sailing operation around the island, offering a remarkable opportunity for travellers to explore the rich heritage, breathtaking natural beauty, and vibrant cultural diversity of Sri Lanka. We look forward to working in close partnership with the Cordelia team to attract at least 80,000 visitors within the next four months alone.”