Tourism in Sri Lanka is growing rapidly. For centuries, Sri Lanka has been a popular place of attraction for foreign travelers. The famous Chinese traveler Fa-Hien arrived in Sri Lanka in the late 4th century. In the twelfth century, Italian explorer Marco Polo claimed that Sri Lanka to be the best island of its size in the world.^[1][2] In view of its fascinating scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage, Sri Lanka has been held among the foreign travelers continues up to the present as a one of best tourist destinations in the world.

In 2012, post office worldwide holiday costs barometer named Sri Lanka as the best valued destination for holidays.^[3] According to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015 Sri Lanka was placed at 63 out of 141 countries.^[4]

Development

The government initiatives in the development of tourism date back to 1937 when the Ceylon Tourist Bureau was established. But it was closed down in September 1939 as the impact of World War II. After the Independence the promotion of tourism was again considered by re-establishing the Ceylon Tourist Board which took over the function of the Tourist Bureau. More formal recognition for country's tourism sector was given with the enactment of Act No.10 of 1966.^[5] Which provided the legislation for the establishment of Ceylon Tourist Board. Since then the Ceylon Tourist Board functioned as the state agency, responsible for development and promotion of the tourism sector in Sri Lanka.

In October 2007 according to the Section 2 of the Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (Act No 10 of 1966) was replaced by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).^[6]

Statistics

Most visitors arriving to Sri Lanka on short term basis in 2015 were from the following countries:^[7]

Rank	Country	Number
1	India	316,247
2	China	214,783
3	United Kingdom	161,845
4	Germany	115,868
5	Maldives	90,617
6	France	86,126
7	Australia	63,554
8	Russia	61,846
9	United States	47,211
10	Japan	39,358
	Total foreign	1,798,380

Beaches

West Coast

• Negombo (35 km north of Colombo)
• Mount Lavinia (12 km south of Colombo)
• Kalutara (42 km south of Colombo)

South Coast

• Bentota (62 km south of Colombo)
• Ambalangoda (Approx 85 km south of Colombo)
• Hikkaduwa (98 km south of Colombo)
• Roomassala (119 km south of Colombo)
• Unawatuna (120 km south-east of Colombo)
• Weligama (143 km south-east of Colombo)
• Mirissa (151 km South east from Colombo)
• Matara (160 km south of Colombo)
• Tangalle (195 km south-east of Colombo)

East Coast

• Arugam Bay (315 km east of Colombo)
• Pasikudah ( Batticaloa)

North East Coast

• Nilaveli (280 km north-east of Colombo)
• Uppuveli (280 km north-east of Colombo)
• Trincomalee (257 km north-east of Colombo)

North Coast

• Casuarina Beach

Religious sites

Famous religious sites in Sri Lanka that attract a large number of tourists,

• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
• Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, Mannar
• Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple,J affna
• Gangarama Temple, Colombo
• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Colombo

• 
  Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy where the tooth of Buddha is kept.
• 
  The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu
• 
  Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple in Jaffna. A popular site for Hindu pilgrims
• 
  Simamalaka shrine on the Gangarama Temple in Colombo situated near the scenic beira lake is a major tourist attract in Colombo
• 
  The Jami Ul Alfar Jummah mosque in Colombo 11, Pettah area is one of the oldest mosques in Colombo and a major landmark

Heritage Sites

There are eight world heritage sites in Sri Lanka:^[8]

• Anuradhapura - Ancient Kingdom
• Sigiriya - Ancient Kingdom & fortress
• Polonnaruwa - Ancient Kingdom
• Kandy - Ancient Kingdom with temple of tooth relic
• Galle - Fortress
• Dambulla - Rock cave temple

Together with the Central Highlands and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

• 
  Ruins of the Anuradhapura Kingdom
• 
  Ancient water tank in Sigriya with the Sigiriya rock fortress in the background
• 
  Ruins of the ancient city in Polonnaruwa
• 
  Seated Buddha statue in the Gal Viharaya, Polonnaruwa
• 
  Palace and the Temple of the tooth in Kandy, the last independent kingdom of Sri Lanka
• 
  Dutch fort and clock tower in Galle

Wildlife parks

• Yala National Park - Most visited, and second-largest in Sri Lanka
• Udawalawe National Park - Famous for Elephant watching
• Kumana National Park - Famous for Bird watching
• Bundala National Park - Famous for Bird watching
• Wasgamuwa National Park - One most attractive national park
• Wilpattu National Park - Largest in Sri Lanka, famous for leopards
• Minneriya National Park - Famous for Elephants
• Horton Plains National Park - Only national park in hill country and famous for sambar
• Mullaitivu National Park - Proposed for Elephant watching
• Nilgala Herbal Garden - located 11 km away from Bibile. (Bibile - Ampara Road) also best place for bird watching
• Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
• Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre

Sports and Adventure

Sri Lanka is a destination for sports tourism. Popular sports include Golf, Surfing, Diving & Snorkeling, Hot Air Ballooning, Rafting and Canoeing, Scuba Diving, Fishing, Cycling, Hiking, Trekking and Rock Climbing.

Locations popular for specific sports are:

• White water rafting - Kitulgala
• Surfing - Arugam Bay, Midigama
• Boating - Bentota, Bolgoda, Madhu ganga, Koggala
• Trekking - Knuckles Mountain Range, Horton plains, Sripada aka Adam's peak

Museums

National Museums

• National Museum of Colombo^[9]
• National Museum of Kandy
• National Museum of Galle
• National Museum of Ratnapura

Scenic Beauty

Waterfalls of Sri Lanka

• Bambarakanda Falls
• Dunhinda Falls
• Ramboda Falls
• Devon Falls
• St. Clair's Falls
• Laxapana Falls
• Baker's Falls
• Ravana Falls
• Diyaluma Falls

Botanical Gardens of Sri Lanka

• Royal Botanical Gardens, Sri Lanka
• Hakgala Botanical Garden
• Henarathgoda Botanical Garden
• Mirijjawila Botanical Garden
• Seetawaka Botanical Garden

Festivals

Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural country with several different festivals celebrated by various communities.

• Thai Pongal
• Aluth Sahal Mangallaya
• Milad un-Nabi
• Independence Day Celebrations
• Maha Shivaratri
• Sinhala and Tamil New Year Celebrations
• Easter Celebrations
• Galle Literary Festival
• Vesak Festival
• Poson Festival
• Katharagama Festival
• Vel Festival
• Hikkaduwa Beach Festival
• Ramadan festival
• Colombo Art Biennale
• Sri Lanka Design Festival
• Christmas
• Electric Peacock Festival
• Essence

Processions(Perahera)

• Duruthu Perahera
• Navam Perahera
• Esala Perahera

Dance Forms

There are three main traditional dance forms in Sri Lanka:

1. Kandyan Dancing,
2. Low Country Dancing,
3. Sabaragamuwa Dancing

Though not unique to Sri Lanka 'Bharatanatyam' which originated from India is also popular in Sri Lanka particularly among the Tamil community.

Tea

Sri Lanka is the 3rd biggest tea producing country in the world. The country is best known in the world market for the production of unorthodox tea. Tea was introduced to the country by the British who called the country “Ceylon”. Pure “Ceylon Tea” is considered some of the finest tea produced anywhere in the world.

Handicrafts

Different types of handicrafts are available in Sri Lanka:

• Wood carving
• Silverware
• Brass castings
• Ceramic ware
• Bamboo products
• Pottery
• Batiks
• Lace works
• Cane works
• Costume jewelry
• Lacquerware
• Wooden masks
• Coir goods
• Handlooms
• Ivory products

Tourism industry

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami^[10] and the past civil war have reduced tourist arrivals but Sri Lanka received over half a million tourists in 2006.^[11]

The International media reports published about the improvements in industry of January 2008 by 0.6%,^[12] March 2008 by 8.6%^[13] when comparing to last year's (2007) figures. It was reported that in the year 2011, total revenue from the tourists arrival to the country is $830.3 million from 850,000 tourists inflow.Further, the tourism board expects over 1 million tourists in 2012 with revenue of more than $1 billion.^[14]

The number of arrivals from the Meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) sector is also growing, in particular from India. The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau is targeting a 20% growth rate for MICE arrivals from India.^[15]

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka exceeded 1.5 Million in 2014 and is expected to exceed 2.5 Million by 2016.^[16][17]

Some of the major hotel and resort development projects currently underway in Sri Lanka are listed below.^[18]

Colombo

• Shangri-La Hotel Colombo: The Hong Kong-based company recently broke ground for a 661-room tower near the storied seafront Galle Face Green in the capital. Expected to open 2017.^[19]
• Sheraton Hotels and Resorts Colombo: Starwood Hotels will make its debut with this 306-room hotel opposite Galle Face Green. Slated to open October 2013.
• Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Colombo: The Swiss company’s entrée will be a 180-room downtown hotel. Target opening date is 2017.^[20]
• Jetwing Colombo: Local hotel group Jetwing's project will have 70 rooms and 28 serviced apartments. Opening April 2014.

The South

• Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa: A 145-acre resort with 315 rooms in southern Hambantota district, with an 18-hole golf course, dive center, and CHI Spa. Scheduled to open in 2016.^[21]
• Avani Kalutara: The second property under the new mid-market brand by Minor Hotel Group and local partner Serendib Leisure will be opened later this year. Located an hour south of Colombo, it will have 105 rooms.
• Anantara Kalutara: A 138-room upscale resort with a spa, opening late 2013.
• Soneva Ahungalla: Bangkok-based Six Senses’ founder Sonu Shivdasani is partnering with Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence Hotels to create an exclusive 71-villa project, occupying 10½ acres of beachfront land and the 26-acre Meeraladuwa Island, just south of Bentota. Slated for early 2014.
• Jetwing Yala Safari, Yala: The original luxury game lodge at one of the country’s best-known parks was destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. The new development will have 70 rooms and 28 villas and is expected to open in April 2013.It will have an initial capacity of 108 luxurious suites and villas. It will feature six key room categories, ranging from the more conventional resort suites and villas to luxurious tree-top suites and royal suites.^[22]

The East

• Jetwing Reef, Uppuveli: This 68-room property, set to open December 2013, will be among the first high-end resorts to open in the region since the war ended.
• JA Eclipse Beach Resort: A beachfront resort with 33 acres of greenery with a beach front of 450 metres.

Social and environmental impacts of tourism

Tourism in Sri Lanka, despite its benefits for the local economy (it is one of the main foreign income sources of the country), is undergoing several critics. Thus, some studies indicate that a quick modern tourism development would not cater to the specific needs of the local people.^[23] Also, the high biodiversity of Sri Lanka seems to be threatened by the development of mass tourism which has already affected several natural reserves. Some endangered animal species seem to be seriously threatened by the rise of tourism in some areas: that is the case of the Keerthisinghe’s Rock Frog, which is endemic in Sri Lanka.^[24]

An alternative kind of tourism - called Ecotourism, sustainable tourism or responsible tourism - enables travelers to do tourism throughout Sri Lanka while contributing on the well-being of the local communities and making sure the environmental impact is limited.^[25] The Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation is the national organization that created an official ecotourism network through the island, allowing to develop sustainable tourism with wide options of travel. In 2010, the foundation won the presidential awards for "Outstanding Contribution for Tourism in Sri Lanka".^[26]

See also

• Economy of Sri Lanka
• Historical archive on tourism
• Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
• Visa policy of Sri Lanka
• World Tourism Organization
• World Travel Monitor

References

External links

• Sri Lanka Tourism — Official government tourism website.
• Tourism in Sri Lanka at Curlie
• Sri Lanka Tours : Tourism in Sri Lanka