Sri Lanka – culture, wildlife and beaches

O NCE overshadowed by its civil war and more recent economic challenges, Sri Lanka has begun to regain popularity, particularly with travellers looking for a beach destination that offers more than the typical ‘fly-and-flop’ resort-style experience. Despite the absence of direct flights, access is relatively easy, with most South Africans routing through the Middle East or East Africa, says Ross Kata, Co-Founder of the Perfections Group, which has begun selling and marketing the destination to the South African market, working with Aitken & Spence Travel on the ground in Sri Lanka. “Emirates via Dubai is a strong option because it offers Johannesburg-to- Colombo connectivity, while Qatar Airways via Doha is also widely used by South African long-haul travellers. People can also consider Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, depending on fares, schedules and availability,” he says. “For agents, the key point is that Sri Lanka is not difficult to reach. It simply needs to be sold as a well-connected one-stop destination rather than a direct-flight beach holiday.” South Africans apply for an ETA online prior to departure, with approval usually within a few days, often much quicker. Selling points Kata believes that Sri Lanka is able to compete with the likes of Maldives, Bali and Malaysia in terms of island and beach appeal, but with a much stronger cultural, historical, culinary, wellness and wildlife layer. “This makes Sri Lanka an explorer’s market rather than only a resort destination. “For South Africans, the value lies in combining beaches, temples, tea country, food experiences, village encounters, scenic train travel, wildlife safaris and wellness in one itinerary,” says Kata, adding that all of this is reachable within relatively short travel distances, making it a more compact island setting. A suggested itinerary for a first-time visitor would be a combination of Colombo, the Cultural Triangle, a wildlife experience, Kandy or tea country, and a beach stay. Kata gave an example. From Colombo to Sigiriya and Pidurangala, a village safari with a traditional Sri Lankan meal, Minneriya National Park for elephants, Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy and The Temple of the Tooth, a scenic train journey into tea country, and heritage sites – Colombo history followed by beach relaxation. Misconceptions Historically, tourism in Sri Lanka was held back by the Sri Lankan Civil War which lasted from 1983 until 2009. For over a decade, it has been rebuilding its tourism industry, which faced setbacks in 2022 as it experienced an economic crisis. “However, with stability restored, Sri Lanka is firmly back on the map,” says Kata. Another misconception is that Sri Lanka is primarily a beach destination. And while the beaches are excellent, says Kata, the stronger sell is the combination of coast, culture, wildlife, wellness and soft adventure. He says Sri Lanka can also offer better value for money for some competitor destinations such as Maldives or Bali. “Some agents believe Sri Lanka is difficult to package but, in reality, it works very well when working with an experienced tour operator because the destination lends itself to curated touring rather than single- resort stays.”