In-depth Sri Lanka Tourism Guide: History, Attractions & Accommodations

About Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority

This official government institution is responsible for regularizing the country's tourism industry and positioning and developing Sri Lanka as a premier international tourist destination. The SLTDA is the official government institution in charge of regularizing the country's tourism industry.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is responsible for harnessing Sri Lanka's natural resources to increase and enhance the country's tourism offering while also profiting investors and sustainably assisting communities.

After recognizing the necessity for an institutional framework, the Sri Lankan government decided in 1966 to expand tourism in a planned and organized manner.

This was made possible with the establishment of the Ceylon Tourist Board and the Ceylon Hotels Corporation, which were established by the Ceylon Hotels Corporation Act of 1966.

A statutory body, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), was established to promote economic development through the development of international tourism. On the other hand, the Ceylon Tourist Board (CTB) was established to provide greater decision-making freedom and financial management flexibility.

The Ceylon Tourist Board was given statutory authority to develop tourism in a planned and controlled manner by the Tourist Development Act of 1968 in Sri Lanka.

The Tourist Development Act gave the Ceylon Tourist Board the authority to acquire land for development purposes (in exchange for compensation). The Act also gave the Ceylon Tourist Board control over the registration and classification of tourist hotels and other tourist services and protected highways and scenic beauty spots. It established a system of fees for tourist services.

Domestic Tourism in Sri Lanka

There has been a considerable growth in the number of domestic tourists visiting Sri Lanka on excursions. With each passing year, the number of Sri Lankans who travel within the country as domestic tourists grow more and more. Sri Lankans are becoming increasingly interested in learning more about their home nation.

The most common reasons for domestic tourists to travel include pilgrimage, family vacation, work-related travel, and sight-seeing excursions.

Anuradhapura, Kataragama, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Sri Pada, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla are the most popular attractions for domestic tourists in Sri Lanka. There is a considerable increase in domestic tourism during school vacations and on weekends.

International Tourism in Sri Lanka

According to the World Tourism Organization, when the government chose to develop tourism as a separate sector of the country's economy by establishing the Ceylon Tourist Bureau in 1966, 18,969 foreign tourists arrived in Sri Lanka.

With the exception of 1971, there was an upward trend in the number of international tourists arriving in the United States until 1982. According to the United Nations Development Program, tourist arrivals climbed by 24 percent each year between 1976 and 1982.

With 407,230 visitors in 1982, the tourist traffic in the country demonstrated a significant increase in the number of people visiting.

However, following the outbreak of the civil war in 1983, the growth rate in tourist arrivals slowed and eventually plateaued at roughly 300,000 – 500,000 visitors per year.

Separatists from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were defeated by government forces in 2009, bringing the 25-year civil war to a close. Tourist arrivals increased from 448,000 in 2009 to 1,798,380 in 2015, representing a more than 300 percent increase in just six years.

The COVID virus disturbed the trend, but as of 2020, the number of international tourists in Sri Lankan is an upwards trend. Following the ease, on the measures, more tourists are allowed to the country.

Tourism in Sri Lanka Post Covid-19

Sri Lanka re-opened for tourism in January 2021, following the implementation of a health plan that included pre-flight and post-arrival Coronavirus testing.

In accordance with the notion of the "bio bubble," tourists might visit a series of specified sites while avoiding interaction with locals and staying at a number of certified hotels.

On the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Authority's website, under the heading 'Hello Again,' an up-to-date list may be found at hello again.

Before the official inauguration, a controversy emerged over visitors brought from Ukraine by a former Ambassador to Russia, who were found to have violated healthcare procedures while in Russia. After a while, it was referred to as a pilot experiment.

The first tourists to arrive at Mattala Airport following the closing of Covid-19 did so on December 28 as part of the so-called pilot project operated by Ukraine's SkyUp Airlines.

Before the airports closed in March, Sri Lanka attracted 5,048 tourists in January and February 2021, decreasing the previous year's total by 435,941.

Sri Lanka Tourism Attractions

Tourist attractions can be divided into two categories: natural and artificial. Nature areas, flora, animals, and climate-friendly locations are all examples of natural attractions. Sites associated with geotourism may also fall under this category.

Cultural and archaeological attractions, historical and religious locations, performing arts venues, folklore festivals, handicrafts, and other anthropogenic attractions are all examples of anthropogenic attractions.

Wildlife

Despite its small size, Sri Lanka has a high biodiversity and wildlife resources. According to the United Nations Environment Program, it is one of the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots.

There are numerous indigenous species of flora and wildlife in Sri Lanka. As a result, the island has become one of the countries with the highest percentages of biological endemism.

As the only country globally with five charismatic megafauna (the Big Five), Sri Lanka is widely regarded as the best destination for big game safaris outside of Africa. This is due to the fact that the country is home to these charismatic megafaunas (the Big Five) and that seeing them can be accomplished in a single tour itinerary.

Leopards, Asian elephants, and sloth bears can all be found in a number of different national parks. Yala National Park is home to one of the world's biggest populations of leopards, which can be found nowhere else on the planet.

According to his research, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, a wildlife photographer and author, has demonstrated that Sri Lanka is the finest area in the world for spotting Blue whales.

Blue and Sperm whales can swim close to the land near the coast of Mirissa, Sri Lanka, thanks to a small continental shelf. The Minneriya National Park has the world's largest seasonal gathering of Asian elephants, with numbers ranging from 200 to 300 elephants or more.

Thirteen percent of Sri Lanka's land surface has been declared as Wildlife Protected Areas (WLPAs), which cover a total area of more than 8,500 kilometers squared (3,282 sq mi).

National parks, which are regions where the public can see and study wildlife, cover around 7% of the country's total land area. The national parks of Sri Lanka have grown in popularity as tourist destinations.

Beaches

Sri Lanka has a coastline of over 1,600 kilometers (994 kilometers) long, featuring tropical beaches popular with both local and international tourists.

The majority of the country's coastlines are punctuated with various coastal characteristics, including bays, lagoons, sandbanks, and rocky headlands, among others.

The majority of these beaches and accompanying resort areas offer a variety of marine recreation activities, including sea bathing and swimming, surfing, boating, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, underwater photography, and scuba diving.

In Sri Lanka, the beaches at Tangalle, Beruwala, Mirissa, Bentota, Arugam Bay, Pasikudah, Hikkaduwa, Uppuveli, and Negombo are considered to be among the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Botanical and Zoological Gardens

Sri Lanka is home to six botanical gardens and four zoological gardens, all open to the public. The Department of National Botanical Gardens is responsible for the upkeep of the botanical gardens.

The Department of National Zoological Gardens is responsible for the upkeep of the zoological gardens. The gardens have become popular destinations for both local and international visitors.

Bird-Watching

According to National Geographic, Sri Lanka is home to 26 endemic bird species and seven potential endemic species. Four hundred and ninety-two species of birds have been reported on the island, 219 of which are breeding inhabitants.

Known as the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (often abbreviated as FOGSL), it is the Sri Lankan branch of the BirdLife International organization. It was established in 1976 to promote bird conservation and environmental preservation.

The headquarters of the FOGSL is located at the Department of Zoology at the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The group's primary focus is on identifying and proposing Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka, one of its primary operations.

Since 2008, the Field Ornithology Group has conducted a December bird count in the manner of the National Audubon Society of the United States' Christmas Bird Count. Because of Sri Lanka's geographical location near the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent, the island serves as a terminus for birds migrating north to south and the North-South bird migratory path.

Heritage

Heritage Tourism is the practice of visiting historical sites for pleasure or profit. Sri Lanka has a treasure trove of pre-historic, proto-historic, and historical monuments, all of which bear witness to the country's long-gone civilization and culture. Buddhism has had the greatest impact on developing the country's cultural heritage.

The historical period of Sri Lanka proper begins in 236 B.C. with the introduction of Buddhism to the area by missionaries sent by the Indian empire Asoka, who established a permanent base in the country.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated six archaeological and two ecological World Heritage Sites.

In addition to the World Heritage Sites, the government of Sri Lanka has designated a number of archaeologically significant sites and monuments around the country as protected sites.

Pilgrimage

Adams Peak (Sri Pada) is a peak in the Himalayas that is one of the few places where people of four main religions can come together to pray.

Sri Lanka is well-known for its rich Buddhist culture and its tolerance and acceptance of various religions. Due to the fact that Sri Lanka is a religious country, it is home to numerous sites of religious and historical significance, which draw visitors from all over the world.

Anuradhapura, the Temple of the Tooth, Adam's Peak, the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, and Kataragama are just a few of the island's well-known religious destinations that draw many visitors.

Pada Yatra, also known as the foot pilgrimage, is one of Sri Lanka's oldest rituals that have been done for generations. It involves local people from Jaffna traveling along the East Coast to the Kataragama temple, one of the country's holiest sites.

Sports and Adventure

A sports tourism event is a group of individuals who go to a particular sporting event to watch, participate in, or be involved in it.

Sri Lanka is also a popular location for sports enthusiasts who like cricket, rugby, golf, and surfing, among other activities. With the exception of cricket, the contribution of other sports to the tourism industry is still at a very low level, if at all.

In addition to traditional sporting activities, adventure sports are included in the category of sports tourism. Some of the adventure sports found in Sri Lanka include trekking, hiking, diving, and rock climbing. Other activities include deep-sea fishing, whale watching, kitesurfing, and hot air ballooning.

Museums and Theatres

Sri Lanka currently has four national museums and 26 archaeological museums, which are open to the public. The Department of National Museums is responsible for the upkeep of national museums, whereas the Department of Archaeology is responsible for the upkeep of archaeological museums. There are numerous theaters in Sri Lanka and museums located around the country.

Festivals

Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural country with various festivals observed by different communities throughout the year. The Kandy Esala Perahera, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, the Vesak Festival, Christmas, the Ramadan festival, the Thai Pongal festival, and the Galle Literary Festival are just a few of the significant festivals that take place throughout the year.

Performing Arts

Sri Lanka has three main traditional dance forms: Kandyan, low country, and Sabaragamuwa. Kandyan dancing is the most well-known of the three.

Though not unique to Sri Lanka, the Indian dance form 'Bharatanatyam,' which originated in India, is very popular in Sri Lanka, particularly among the Tamil population.

Food

The cuisine of Sri Lanka has been impacted by a variety of historical, cultural, and other influences over the centuries. Rice is the most important staple food in the country. Hoppers, string hoppers, and pittu are some of the other essentials. [56]

Due to the fact that Sri Lanka is one of the world's major producers of tea, the country is well recognized for producing unusual varieties of tea.

The British, who called the country "Ceylon," were responsible for introducing tea to the country. Traditionally, pure Ceylon tea has been regarded as some of the finest tea ever produced anywhere globally.

Handicrafts

Wood carving, silverware, brass castings, ceramic ware, bamboo products, pottery, batiks, lace works, cane works, costume jewelry, lacquerware, wooden masks, coir goods, handlooms, and ivory products are some of the handicrafts available in Sri Lanka. Other handicrafts available in Sri Lanka include ivory products.

Natural Scenic Beauty

Mountainous terrains, agricultural landscapes, waterfalls, regions with various climatic conditions, reservoirs (wewas), and rivers are only a few of the many tourist attractions in Sri Lanka that are known for their natural visual beauty.

Culture and Other

Activities Cultural tourism comprises travel to metropolitan regions, particularly historic or big cities, and visits to cultural attractions such as museums and theaters.

Tourism Accommodations in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka offers a diverse choice of accommodations in various pricing ranges, ranging from simple seaside shacks to beautiful colonial homes and lavish five-star resorts. There is something for everyone in Sri Lanka.

Indeed, if you have the means, staying in one of the country's growing number of luxury hotels and villas can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of a vacation to the island.

Type of Accommodation in Sri Lanka

Travelers on a tight budget will spend most of their stay at guesthouses, which are typically family-run establishments either in or attached to the owners' homes.

Some of the fancier guesthouses can feel like real homes away from home, with superb meals and personable hosts to make you feel at ease.

From practical, concrete boxes to luxury facilities that are virtual tourist attractions in their own right, hotels are available in various styles, sizes, and price ranges.

Some of Sri Lanka's most beautiful hotels (particularly in the hill country) are housed in historic colonial buildings, providing a fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle and atmosphere of bygone eras. However, the island also boasts a number of stunning modern hotels, many of which were designed by the country's most celebrated twentieth-century architect, Geoffrey Bawa.

Many resort hotels can be found along the shore, most of which are bland (with few notable exceptions), catering mostly to European package tourists on full-board programs and serving an unappealing buffet diet while providing a plethora of scheduled activities and entertainment.

Sri Lanka is beginning to recognize the enormous potential for eco-tourism in the country, and it currently has a number of excellent eco-friendly hotels and resorts. You could also stay in bungalows or camps in many of the island's national parks, although that might be difficult to arrange due to the limited availability of accommodations.

Sri Lanka's national parks are the only places where official campsites are available, and camping is not permitted anywhere else. If you decide to pitch your tent unofficially in rural regions or on the beach, you may encounter difficulties with local landowners and locals.

A large (and steadily increasing) number of villas and boutique hotels are also available in Sri Lanka, many of which are housed in ancient colonial mansions or old tea estate bungalows and provide beautiful and comfortable lodging.

The conventional one-to-five-star classification system is used to categorize hotels. In addition, certain smaller hotels and guesthouses are officially approved by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. However, it should be noted that such accreditation implies absolutely nothing. Certified establishments are frequently worse than their non-approved competitors.

To find a room, Sri Lanka has its fair share of lodging touts, making it difficult to find a room. Making a reservation in advance will save you time and stress. Most guesthouses will pick you up for free from the bus or railway station if you call ahead of time. Call ahead in person rather than allowing your driver to do it for you if you are traveling with a driver.

Your needs for your accommodation will vary depending on where you are on the island; fundamental demands change as you travel up into the hill area, and things become progressively colder as you travel further north. Sri Lankan accommodations are very universally equipped with private bathrooms.

A fan (typically a ceiling fan; floor-standing fans are far less common and much less effective) is also recommended in low-lying places; don't stay without one unless you're happy to lie in a puddle of sweat if you don't mind that. It's also a good idea to double-check that the fan is functioning properly (that is, it runs at a reasonable speed and doesn't make a terrible racket). In lowland locations, the size of a room and the height of the ceiling are crucial factors in determining how hot a place will be — rooms with low ceilings can become extremely oppressive.

Many buildings in various localities (particularly Arugam Bay) are constructed with roofs raised slightly above the tops of the walls, allowing cool air to travel freely through the gap between the two structures (although, equally, it provides free access to insects).

A/C and hot water are also common in more upscale locations; nevertheless, the most affordable locations in the lowlands are unlikely to have these amenities (though given how humid it is, cold-water showers are no particular hardship). Most accommodations have mosquito nets, but it's still a good idea to bring your own.

The majority of places in all categories offer hot water in the hill country, despite the chilly climate. Generally speaking, you'll need a fan in any location, including Kandy, hot water in Kandy, and wherever higher up the mountain range.

In the higher elevations of the island, notably in Nuwara Eliya, you'll almost always want some heating and a plentiful quantity of blankets to keep warm. Mosquito nets are not provided by many hill country establishments, which is not a major concern in most cases.

Even though these bothersome little critters shouldn't be able to survive at these elevations (at least in theory), you may be unlucky enough to have an unusually hardy example buzzing in your ear somewhere on the island.

In addition, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind when selecting a hotel. Check to see how many lights there are and whether or not they are operational: Hotels in Sri Lanka are known for using twenty-watt lights, which can make rooms appear dark and gloomy.

When staying in a family guesthouse, keep an eye out for boisterous youngsters, barking dogs, or television sets near your room; and request a room away from any noisy neighboring roads.

The Cost of Accommodation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's bargaining culture may be seen in the room rates in lower-end establishments. Specific rates are generally only approximate because proprietors will adjust costs according to the season, levels of demand, and how wealthy they believe you to be.

Always bargain, even in high-end establishments, especially when you're planning to stay for a few nights or when business is slow in that particular location.

If you're traveling alone, you'll have to work a little harder to get a reasonable cost because many businesses don't offer single rooms or rates (and when they do, they're normally two-thirds to three-quarters the price of a double room). Make an educated guess about the price of a double, and then negotiate from there.

In many cases, your hotel or guesthouse will also serve as your primary dining establishment, and half-and full-board pricing is popular in these establishments. Even though the cuisine can be monotonous, all-inclusive resorts are typically incredibly cost-effective; nonetheless, the attraction of all-inclusive resorts is dependent on the presence or lack of other places to dine in the immediate region.

Prices in most coastal places vary according to the season and the location. Rates climb (typically by between 25 and 50 percent) practically everywhere throughout the west coast from November 1 through mid-to-late April, with the most obvious seasonal variation occurring along the Pacific coast.

During this time period, some establishments along the south coast also raise their prices. Most east coast destinations tend to boost their rates between April and September.

Rates in specific towns might also increase when a large festival or other event is taking place in the area – such as during the Esala Perahera in Kandy – or during key holidays, such as the Sinhalese New Year in Nuwara Eliya, when prices across all of Sri Lanka triple or quadruple.

Room rates at mid-and high-end establishments are frequently quoted in dollars for convenience. However, they are only payable in rupees (a few places along the west coast quote prices in euros, again usually payable in rupees).

Inquire whether additional taxes will be added to the bill or if the indicated price (the so-called "nett" rate) already includes any additional taxes. Although there is no hard and fast rule, lower-priced hotels and guesthouses are more likely to quote net rates, while higher-priced establishments are more likely to quote rates that exclude taxes and service charges.

Many establishments charge a ten percent "service charge." There are a number of other government taxes that may or may not be included in the quoted price but which can add up to 27 percent to the total bill – a nasty surprise when you come to check out, especially since these taxes will most likely have already been added to your food and beverage bills.

Lastly, keep in mind that many hotels operate on a dual-pricing system, with foreigners paying more (and much more) than their local counterparts. If you have a resident's visa, you may be entitled to lower charges than those charged elsewhere.

Sri Lanka Tourism Guidelines

If you are looking forward to traveling to Sri Lanka, it is important to familiarize yourself with the current Sri Lanka tourism guidelines necessitated by the COVID virus. Note these guidelines can change at any time or can be revised. The government of Sri Lanka stipulates the guidelines through the ministry of Tourism.

Fully Vaccinated Status

It is deemed FULLY VACCINATED if a traveler or crew member has received all of the "recommended doses" of a COVID-19 immunization and has completed the 14-day waiting period after the vaccination.

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 18 who have received at least a single dose of a nationally recognized vaccine for COVID-19 and have completed 14 days following immunization will be granted the same rights as those who have had a full vaccination.

FAQS about Sri Lanka Tourism