The nature of tourism in Sri Lanka

By Amal HEWAVISSENTI

Tourism has turned out to be a powerful industry which roughly accounts for multiple employment opportunities and a major source of income in the current world. The developing countries which have focussed on traditional export crops in order to develop national economy have now switched over to tourism considering its enormous contribution to the national economy. In Sri Lanka, tourist industry ranks fourth among the major foreign exchange earners and this trend demonstrates the vitality of tourism to Sri Lankan economy.

On the other hand we can witness a greater awakening towards the importance of tourist industry as a profitable source of much needed foreign exchange for the country’s development.

The awareness programs launched by the community relations department of the tourist board are gaining astonishing popularity day by day. These special awareness programs launched among rural leaders, teachers and students of government schools and other leaders on provincial level are well responded to, on their current value.

In addition, there is a greater number of university students coming to the tourist board to research the latest trends and innovations in tourist industry in Sri Lanka.

The arrivals of foreign tourists to Sri Lanka means a considerable relief in the problem of managing economy with foreign exchange. Undoubtedly, Sri Lanka is replete with all resources and all types of tourist attractions.

It is a perfect destination for a tourist because its geographical set up and natural attractions provide much more, for him than he expects.

It is noteworthy that no protest was levelled against the spread large scale tourist industry in the country as Sri Lankans were well aware of benefit of it.

On the other hand, tourist industry in some African, Latin American and Caribbean countries was subject to forceful protests by public on cultural grounds at the earliest stages of introduction.

The people in the above countries raised themselves against the tourists coming in. Yet tourist industry in Sri Lanka managed to have easy access to people’s recognition as Sri Lankans were characterised by hospitality.

On the whole, a local tourist also is an integrate part of tourist industry apart from the vital role played by foreign tourists. However, foreign tourists attract the greater attention in the tourist industry on the estimate of the benefits and income they bring for Sri Lanka. With the exception of the foreign exchange (brought by foreign tourists) all other economic benefits are readily derived, even on a small scale, from one local tourists. Therefore, the tastes of the local tourist should also be taken into account when planning tourist attractions whether natural or man-made.

Two types of foreign tourists are observed in Sri Lanka. One is the average tourist who spends more than 24 hours in the country and take up a day or two in the least to visit places. The other group “excursionists” are tourists who do not usually spend a single day in the country.

They tour the country by day and go back to their ships for the night.

Under the ten year development plan launched from 1992 to 2001, Sri Lanka has been divided into five tourist zones. They are -

1. The Colombo zone which covers the city of Colombo and the coastal areas situated to the north and south of the city.
2. The western and southern coastal area with cultural activities of people and coconut groves as the chief tourist attraction.
3. The eastern coastal area with beaches for comfortable holidaying.
4. The hill country with natural beauty, wholesome climate and tea estates.
5. The zone of ancient cities. (This zone covers the cultural triangle of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya).

Why do tourists select Sri Lanka?

The tourist generating countries or the developed countries in the Northern Hemisphere send tourists to developing countries (tourist destinations) in the southern hemisphere. This does not at all mean that tourists do not travel to a developed country from a developed country but the general trend is to travel from developed country to a developing country.

The countries with the biggest number of tourists coming to Sri Lanka and United Kingdom, Germany, India, France, Netherland, Italy, Australia, Japan and so forth. India, though it is a third world country, generates tourists for Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka in turn generates tourists for India, Nepal and Singapore.

Sri Lanka produces a large number of tourists for India as pilgrims to the places with religious value and those for shopping.

Tourists arrive in Sri Lanka in two distinct ways. The first is the group of tourists who buy a tour package planned by travel agents as a team.

Here the tourists remain as one group until the end of their tour. Everything including places to be visited, lodging or accommodation, tourist activities has been pre planned.

Most often, these tourists come to the country by charter carriers or by regular flights. The second group are those who arrive in Sri Lanka unaccompanied by any one.

They tour Sri Lanka alone or with one or two of their friends or relations and are seen to be enjoying individually the natural beauty of the country.

First they gather vital information about Sri Lanka from their friends or relations who may be living in Sri Lanka and decide to tour the country alone.

In whatever way they may come to Sri Lanka, it is obvious that they arrive in the country with one or more purposes firmly rooted in their minds.

The primary objective of any tourist coming to Sri Lanka is to spend a few days watching panoramic views or swimming in a sea with perfect peace of mind coupled with enjoyment. Having experienced a bitter climatic conditions in the cold countries of North Europe, the European tourist finds a little paradise with sea beaches with wholesome sunlight and green forests with waterfalls in Sri Lanka.

They build much hope on the enjoyment of natural beauty of the country with sun, sea, sand and service by a hospitable community.

The tourists intent on enjoying the natural beauty of the country pay a greater attention to the ‘tourist product’ offered by Sri Lanka as a fascinating tourist destination.

A special privilege granted by the tourist product is the sure accessibility of any tourist attraction within the country within 24 hours.

For instance, a tourist who takes breakfast at a beach holiday resort in the morning is capable of having lunch at Sigiriya of the cultural triangle with hot climate. For dinner, he may reach Nuwara Eliya or Bandarawela within a day.

In contrast to this convenience of reaching a places from another place in Sri Lanka, a tourist has to travel for days in a train or carriages to reach Taj Mahal from any tourist attraction in India. In the case of Maldives, the one and only tourist product it has got to offer for a tourist is the sea beach.Therefore, Sri Lanka is popular among tourists as a tourist destination which offers tourist attractions including religious places, places of natural beauty, different climatic conditions, flora and fauna within a short time at comparatively lower rates. Apart from that, business transactions, international conferences, religious affairs, educational pursuits and entertainment purposes propel a large number of tourists to Sri Lanka.

Some become tourists when they come to visit their relations, family members or friends living in the country. Even Sri Lankans who have acquired citizenship in Australia, America, Great Britain or Canada become tourists for Sri Lanka when they return to visit their roots.

However, it is important to make all arrangement for a peaceful vacation for tourists who arrive in Sri Lanka for varied purposes. Facilitating peaceful atmosphere for their enjoyment within the short spell they spend in Sri Lanka appears to be highly effective.

This process will attract the relevant tourists as repeat visitors.

This will ultimately bring about a large influx of tourists.

The optimistic attitudes of tourists about the value of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination will serve as a wider propagation for new tourists.