Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Thursday, 4 February 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka, a mesmerising land like no other, is the Pearl in the Indian Ocean. This year on 4 February, the small nation celebrates its 73rd Independence Day.
Formerly known as Ceylon, the isle was under direct British rule from 1815 to 1948. Located at the Southern Indian tip, and surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka’s history is intertwined with that of its neighbours. Its borders the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions comprise of South Asia, South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean.
This beautiful isle is blessed with a diverse landscape, ranging from luscious highland plains to pristine sandy beaches. The island covers a square area of 65,610 km and possesses a high level of bio-diversity and wildlife resources. Sri Lanka is much loved by visitors as an exotic paradise mesmerising for its natural habitat, flora and fauna. This country offers something for everyone from every walk of life. Sri Lanka has numerous tourist attractions which are of natural scenic beauty including mountainous terrains, agricultural landscapes, waterfalls, etc.
Colombo city, the bustling commercial capital is a hub of urban lifestyles. Kandy, in the hill country is brimming with history and serene beauty. The heart of Kandy is sacred attraction known as the Dalada Maligawa or Temple of the Tooth. The annual pageant or Esala Perahera continues to thrill visitors as a spectacular festival.
For those who thrive on adventure, Kitulgala offers a variety of thrilling activities such as white water rafting down the majestic Kelani River rapids, canyoning, jungle treks and bird watching.
Dubbed ‘Little England’ Nuwara Eliya personifies the cool climes amidst a sea of tea plantations. Beautiful mountains, rivers, valleys, waterfalls and tea gardens showcase nature’s bounty. The city also holds vestiges of a bygone era and summer retreats of colonisation. The city boasts one of Sri Lanka’s best Golf Courses. The Hakgala Botanical Gardens and the Ambewela Farm in Nuwara Eliya are attractions not to be missed.
Sri Lanka is celebrated as being one of the largest producers of tea in the world. Tea was introduced to the country by the British who called the country ‘Ceylon’. Today, ‘Ceylon Tea’ is considered some of the finest tea produced anywhere in the world. Sri Lanka is also best known for the production of unorthodox tea.
Take one of the most beautiful train rides from Nuwara Eliya to Ella and fall in love with beautiful countryside. There are a lot of things to do in Ella and many visitors stay longer than planned.
Sri Lanka’s golden beaches and coastal attractions make it an ideal destination for a vacation. Most of the coastlines of the country are studded with attractive coastal features such as bays, lagoons, sandbanks and rocky headlands.
Marine recreational activities such as sea bathing and swimming, surfing, boating, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, underwater photography and scuba diving are activities that visitors can explore and enjoy.
Beaches of Tangalle, Beruwala, Mirrisa, Bentota, Unawatuna, Arugam Bay, Pasikudah, Nialweli, Hikkaduwa and Negombo are recognised as among the most famous tourist beaches in the country.
Mirrisa situated in Weligama is known for its exquisite sandy beach and rich history. Legend has it that the first Methodist priests arrived in Sri Lanka on these shores. Travellers who visit this splendid beach are enthralled with its clean white sand and whispering palms.
Surrounded by the turquoise blue ocean, Sri Lanka is celebrated as one of the best surf destinations in the world.
Arugam Bay in the East Coast exudes a laid-back beachside vibe and attracts surfers and sun-seekers from around the globe. Listed at No. 8 in Lonely Planet’s Best in Asia, Arugam Bay provides a total experience interweaving surfing and the local culture. Arugam Bay with its numerous surfing points is bound to bring in the waves and signify the start of surfing in 2021. For visitors seeking an adrenaline high, kite-surfing at Kalpitiya is one of the coolest ways to indulge when in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is very rich in pre-historic, proto-historic and history and historical monuments which portray its ancient civilisation and culture. While Sri Lanka is a renowned tropical paradise, its rich history can also be traced to prehistoric eras where the earliest human remains found in an area known as Balangoda, in the Ratnapura district is about 125,000 years old.
Ratnapura or Ratnadeepa of which Sri Lanka was called in ancient times is where gem traders came to buy precious gemstones and is blessed with six endemic varieties of gemstones. One of which is the blue sapphire stone made famous around the world as the engagement ring worn by the late Princes Diana and now the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
Sri Pada or Adams Peak is considered the most sacred mountain by main the four religions practiced by Sri Lankan communities i.e., Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims in the country.
Sri Lanka is also the proud custodian of more than 50 Ramayana site from the place of Seetha Devi Captivity to battle field where lord Rama and King Raavana’s army fought.
The nation holds many historical sites with archaeological evidence of its ancient age can been seen in cities such as Anuradhapura, famous for its well-preserved ruins.
Sri Lanka is also the proud custodian of more than 50 Ramayana sites from the place of Seetha Devi’s captivity to battlefield where Lord Rama and King Ravana’s armies fought.
UNESCO has also declared six archaeological and two ecological world heritage sites in the country. Besides the world heritage sites, the Government of Sri Lanka has declared a number of archaeological protected sites and monuments within the country.
Tourist accommodation in Sri Lanka consists of graded hotels, supplementary establishment guest houses and limited scale camping sites. Most informal accommodation is available on a paying guest system in private houses and hill-country tea estate bungalows.
Sri Lanka is open and warmly welcomes visitors
The 30-year civil war, Tsunami, Easter Sunday attack and the current COVID-19 pandemic has had a crippling affected on the tourist industry. At present there are three million people who are dependent in tourism Industry in this country. Therefore, the Chamber of Tourism and Industry is seeking funding assistance.
Sri Lanka warmly welcomes visitors once again to experience the paradise island. All travellers must apply for a visa online and download the Visit Sri Lanka app. A three-month visa will be then issued.
Anyone coming from abroad must stay in a Government-approved Level 1 hotel for up to 14 days of their stay. There are over 54 tourist hotel island-wide establishments that have been certified and awarded the ‘Safe & Secure’ Certificate. Guests can enjoy the hotel facilities such as pools, gyms, salons and restaurants.
Visitors have the freedom to visit selected 17 places declared as Bio bubble area to travel within the country enjoying several tourism sites and attractions and stay at these secure Level 1 hotels during their initial two-week stay while still observing safety protocols.
Once visitors complete their two-weeks of semi-quarantine, they will be able to move more freely within Sri Lanka.
In addition to paying for flights and accommodation, travellers are responsible for the cost of health insurance ($ 12), visa fees Asian ($ 25) other country ($ 35) and up to three PCR tests in-country ($ 40 each).
We kindly request all tourists and visitors to follow all health guidelines continuously until your trip is over.
Tourism sectors effected due to COVID-19
Opportunities for Sri Lankan tourism
Challenges
Direct employment
About one million people are involved in the tourism sector and over three million people are dependent on tourism as an income.
Total employment, both direct and indirect in 2018 can be estimated at 0.5 million
Average duration of tourist-stay:
Europe: 10-14 days
Middle East: 7-9 days
Asian: 6-7 days
Occupancy rate 2018 71.35-79.19
2019 54.9-58.7
Tourist spending is at an average of $ 167-177 per day
Important email addresses for tourists who are visiting Sri Lanka
Issues to be considered
Tourist hotels around the island are the biggest hit due to the outbreak. A moratorium on loan and vehicle leasing payments was given to the Tourism sector for one year. However, since there has not been any improvement in the industry it is suggested that the moratorium to be extended for a further period of one year. Although there was relief provided via in capital payments the banks continue to charge interest payments. The tourism industry has been paying an interest rate from 9% to 15% and has been requested from the authorities to totally remove interest payments or to reduce interest rates to 4%
(The writer is the President Chamber of Tourism Industry Sri Lanka and can be reached via email at [email protected].)
