Tourism in Sri Lanka

Kitulgala, where the Academy Award-winning "The Bridge on the River Kwai" was filmed

In the twelfth century, the explorer Marco Polo wrote that Sri Lanka was the finest island in the whole world. For centuries it had been a tourism destination, particularly for European travelers. Recently, the Sri Lankan Civil War that spanned over 25 years and ended in 2009 has had a negative impact on tourism and the growth of the industry stagnated, however following this era a resurgence in Sri Lanka as a tourist destination has been evident. In 2012, post office worldwide holiday costs barometer named Sri Lanka as the best valued destination for holidays.[1]

Beaches

Beach at Arugam Bay

West Coast

South Coast

Beach in Yala National Park

East Coast

North Coast

Heritage Sites

There are eight world heritage sites in Sri Lanka:[2]

Kandy, a World Heritage Site

Together with the Central Highlands and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Wildlife parks

Leopards at Yala National Park
Tourism in Yala National Park
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Sports and Adventure

Sri Lanka is a destination for sports tourism. Popular sports include Golf, Surfing, Diving & Snorkeling, Hot Air Ballooning, Rafting and Canoeing, Scuba Diving, Fishing, Cycling, Hiking, Trekking and Rock Climbing.

Locations popular for specific sports are:

Scenic Beauty

Diyaluma Falls

Waterfalls of Sri Lanka

Botanical Gardens of Sri Lanka

Festivals

For a country where people practice four main religions Sri Lanka has always maintained religious harmony among communities. With Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity playing important roles of lives of people Sri Lanka has religious or cultural festivals throughout the year.

Famous festivals of Sri Lanka

Essence

Dance Forms

There are three main traditional dance forms in Sri Lanka:

1) Kandyan Dancing,

2) Low Country Dancing,

3) Sabaragamuwa Dancing

Though not unique to Sri Lanka 'Bharatanatyam' which originated from India is also popular in Sri Lanka particularly among the Tamil community.

Tea

Sri Lanka is the 3rd biggest tea producing country in the world. The country is best known in the world market for the production of unorthodox tea. Tea was introduced to the country by the British who called the country “Ceylon”. Pure “Ceylon Tea” is considered some of the finest tea produced anywhere in the world.

Handicrafts

Different types of handicrafts are available in Sri Lanka:

People of Sri Lanka

The main ethnic groups are:

Sri Lankan people are generally known for their hospitality. Most tourists admire the genuine smile of the people according to airport exit surveys.

Tourism industry

Routemaster used as a tour bus in Colombo

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami[4] and the past civil war have reduced tourist arrivals but Sri Lanka received over half a million tourists in 2006.[5]

The International media reports published about the improvements in industry of January 2008 by 0.6%,[6] March 2008 by 8.6%[7] when comparing to last year's (2007) figures. It was reported that in the year 2011, total revenue from the tourists arrival to the country is $830.3 million from 850,000 tourists inflow. Further, the tourism board expects over 1 million tourists in 2012 with revenue of more than $1 billion.[8]

The number of arrivals from the Meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) sector is also growing, in particular from India. The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau is targeting a 20% growth rate for MICE arrivals from India.[9]

Some of the major hotel development projects currently underway in Sri Lanka are listed below.[10]

Colombo

The South

The East

Social and environmental impacts of tourism

Tourism in Sri Lanka, despite its benefits for the local economy (it is one of the main foreign income sources of the country), is undergoing several critics. Thus, some studies indicate that a quick modern tourism development would not cater to the specific needs of the local people.[11] Also, the high biodiversity of Sri Lanka seems to be threatened by the development of mass tourism which has already affected several natural reserves. Some endangered animal species seem to be seriously threatened by the rise of tourism in some areas: that is the case of the Keerthisinghe’s Rock Frog, which is endemic in Sri Lanka.[12]

An alternative kind of tourism - called Ecotourism, sustainable tourism or responsible tourism - enables travelers to do tourism throughout Sri Lanka while contributing on the well-being of the local communities and making sure the environmental impact is limited.[13] The Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation is the national organization that created an official ecotourism network through the island, allowing to develop sustainable tourism with wide options of travel. In 2010, the foundation won the presidential awards for "Outstanding Contribution for Tourism in Sri Lanka".[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Holiday Costs Barometer 2012" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "UNESCO World Heritage Sites". Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. ↑ {{cite
    • Nilgala Herbal Garden- located 11 km away from Bibile.(Bibile - Ampara Road)also Best Place for Bird watching
    news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2010/12/101201_junga.shtml|title=Mullaitivu wildlife sanctuary|work=BBC Sinhala|date=2010-12-01}}
  4. ↑ "Tsunami region seeks tourism boost". CNN. January 6, 2005.
  5. ↑ A war strange as fiction, The Economist
  6. ↑ Aneez, Shihar (February 15, 2008). "Sri Lanka Jan tourist arrivals up 0.6 pct vs yr ago". Reuters.
  7. ↑ Sirilal, Ranga (April 16, 2008). "Sri Lanka March tourist arrivals up 8.6 pct yr/yr". Reuters.
  8. ↑ "Sri Lanka's May tourist arrivals rise 17.5 pct yr/yr".
  9. ↑ Samath, Feizal (November 8, 2012). "Sri Lanka reaches out for more Indian MICE". TTGmice. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "Hotels Return to Sri Lanka".
  11. ↑ Evan Due (1980). "Tourism and Development: Examining the Case of Sri Lanka". Open Access Dissertations and Theses.
  12. ↑ Gazala Anver. "Tourism Threatening Endangered Species". The Sunday Leader.
  13. ↑ J. Thumira Gunasena. "Tourism in Sri Lanka and its Impact on Social Political and Natural Environment" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "SRI LANKA ECOTOURISM FOUNDATION".

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sri Lanka.