Think Sri Lanka and it’s tempting to talk about the tea plantations for which this country is renowned, but increasingly, Australians are flocking to this tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean as the next frontier for an authentic travel experience. CHRISTINE RETSCHLAG reports.
SEVEN years ago, one of the last destinations on the minds of Australian travellers was Sri Lanka, mired, as it was, in the midst of its Civil War. Sure, there was the odd antipodean hippie surfer hanging around some of the best surf breaks in the world, but the average Aussie traveller looking for a beach and beer on a budget was still lounging in Bali or Thailand.
Fast forward to 2016, and Australians have Sri Lanka well and truly on their radar. Named after Sri, which means splendour or splendid, and Lanka, which means island, this Indian Ocean gem is welcoming Australians with open arms. In May this year, a delegation of 50 Sri Lankan tourism representatives hosted a three-city roadshow extravaganza in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, in a bid to highlight what was so special about their country.
Sri Lanka Tourism Director of Marketing Madubhani Perera says they are “excited” to increase their promotional efforts in Australia and to demonstrate the “wonders” of the nation.
“We have World Heritage sites, rich biodiversity, tropical beaches, adventurous experiences & world-class hotels,” Perera says.
And Aussies, it appears, are listening. Australian tourism arrivals into Sri Lanka highlighted a growth rate of 9% last year. First quarter arrivals suggest the Tourism Board is on target to achieve its goal of 70,000 Australian arrivals in 2016.
Intrepid Travel offers a variety of tours into Sri Lanka, including a 12-day Real Food Adventure which starts in Negombo and finishes in Colombo from $1,695. On this journey, travellers experience an early morning visit to the Negombo Fish Market; a cycling trip to the World Heritage temple town of Anuradhapura; dinner and cooking classes at the homes of local families, street food and even slum cuisine; food and vegetable markets which run 24 hours; colourful Kandy; the tea country of Haputale; coastal Mirissa; and the Dutch fortress town of Galle before finishing at the capital of Colombo.
Intrepid Group’s Product Manager Ryan Turner says they are up 21 per cent on last year’s bookings and continue to develop new trips to the destination, this year launching a Sensational Sri Lanka trip to Jaffna in the north, which is a first for the group since the end of the 25-year civil war in 2009.
“Sri Lanka is still an emerging tourism destination so even the main sites don’t feel too touristy,” Turner says.
“It’s also relatively small land easy to get around, but packs a punch with a huge variety – the culture of Kandy, hiking and village homestays in the jungle highlands, safaris in Yala National Park, the southern beaches around Unawatuna, or the northern town of Jaffna.”
Flight Centre Head of Leisure Travel Tom Walley says the quintessential Sri Lankan experiences for which travellers are looking centre around pursuits of nature whether it be surfing, visiting deserted beaches, wildlife spotting and exploring a number of national parks.
“Sri Lanka has so far been overlooked by mainstream tourists, which is exactly what attracts intrepid travellers to its shores as they seek unique experiences in this off-thebeaten- track destination,” Walley says.
“While political instability has kept many people away until now, our data shows a healthy increase in bookings to Sri Lanka in 2015 that grew by 3.4 per cent, indicating that tourism to the country is on the rise.”
Flight Centre data reveals the average age of travellers to Sri Lanka is 47, however there has been a 21 per cent rise in younger travellers (aged between 20 and 24) in 2015 on the previous year. Visitors tend to travel in groups, stay an average of 20 days, and purchase on average $3,760 in land and air arrangements.
“The country is for travellers looking to get off the grid and as much of Sri Lanka’s coastline is quiet, that’s an achievable feat, especially in the south that is less populated and boasts beautiful beaches,” Walley says.
“A wildlife safari through Yala National Park is also a must as the area is regarded as one of the best game parks outside of Africa and you are all but guaranteed to spot a leopard alongside herds of wild elephants, sloths and other exotic creatures.”
While there is not doubt that Australians will continue their long love affair with their south-east Asian neighbours such as Thailand and Bali, increasingly they will accept that extra four-hour flight to Sri Lanka. As long as there’s cold and cheap beer, budget accommodation and unspoiled beaches, the Aussies are coming. And Sri Lanka, it appears, is ready.
