Colombo among ‘CNN Travel Best Destinations for 2022’

Sri Lanka Tourism is on an optimistic path to leverage on the growing influx of tourists since last year, with a fresh boost from the influential CNN Travel recognising Colombo in its ‘Best Destinations for 2022’.

Antigua and Barbuda, Bissagos Islands, Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton, Chile, Dijon in France, Disko Bay in Greenland, Gabon National Parks, Jordan, Lahti in Finland, Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert in Australia, Naples in Italy, Ollantaytambo in Peru, Orkney Islands in UK, Oslo, Palau, Penang, South Africa, St. Eustatius in the Netherlands, Tulsa in Oklahoma, Valencia in Spain and Yellowstone National Park were among other destinations featured in the ‘CNN Travel Best Destinations for 2022’.

CNN Travel Journalist Lilit Marcus in her review in ‘Best Destinations for 2022’ said: “Colombo is usually misunderstood from the beginning. Despite being Sri Lanka’s biggest city, it isn’t the capital (that would be Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, which is a great fact to break out at your next pub quiz), and many travellers skip it over in favour of the island’s gorgeous beaches and tea farms.”

“But in 2022 it’s time to pay attention to the city’s underrated design destinations, including late architect Geoffrey Bawa’s home, which is now a mini museum and guest house called Number Eleven.

The next year is bringing a spate of promising new hotels to the city, including properties by Amari, Grand Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton and ITC. Sri Lanka does have its share of delicious curries, but don’t assume that the food is the same as in neighbouring India.”

Start the day by filling up on egg hoppers heaped with coconut sambol at the Palmyrah’s lush breakfast banquet, head to the Pettah Floating Market to stock up on bananas in nearly every colour of the rainbow, and end the day watching the beach sunset at the Galle Face Hotel sipping a grapefruit-infused take on a Negroni at the aptly named Traveller’s Bar. Everything tastes better paired with the island’s own Ceylon teas.

Tour Company Urban Adventures provides necessary historical context on the country’s Sinhalese, Tamil and Malay cultures alongside the eats. Sustaining the global spotlight on Sri Lanka as a ‘safe and secure’ holiday she visited the country in April 2021 to experience first-hand how Sri Lanka Tourism has managed to open up the country by implementing the globally recognised ‘bio-bubble’ concept.