Information about the tourist infrastructure in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) took extraordinary measures after the tragedy of 2004 Tsunami to develop decent tourism infrastructure in Sri Lanka. The idea of tourism zones was implemented and each zone was given a theme to abide by. This helped in an effective surge of inbound tourists due to the high quality of service and ease in experiencing the local culture. Many jobs were created in tourism zones specifically to help tourists. Hotels/villas/resorts were given special incentives and attractive benefits which in turn started a wave of new and upcoming markets for the accommodation sector.
Vehicle owners were able to secure well-paying jobs in being drivers for the tourism ministry. This not only cheapened the cost of travelling for tourists, but this also brought out trust & confidence in government-sponsored tourism.
Construction of hotels and luxury resorts has brought about thousands of new jobs to local Sri Lankans and these moves made by the government have inspired foreign investors to step into the hospitality industry of Sri Lanka as well.
As a result of all these efforts, almost a decade later, Sri Lanka now receives an astonishing 2 million tourists per year in 2017 which is forecasted to double by the end of 2019. Large amounts of money that tourism is bringing to the national economy are re-invested to support the ongoing development of tourism infrastructure in Sri Lanka.
Travel companies in Sri Lanka
If tourists want the whole tour planned by a reputed travel company, it’s very easy to do so with the tour agencies. From reputed conglomerates to small business owners, many have taken steps to venture into the booming tourism industry through the founding of travel & tour agencies. Tourists find the services provided by the agencies very convenient as everything will be planned beforehand. From picking up at the airport, helping in every way possible while on tour and dropping back at the airport for departure, the tour agencies have been an immense help for hassle-free travel as this removes the possibility of tourists being fraudulently overcharged for products or services while travelling in the country.
Information about local/public transport in Sri Lanka
The Tuk – Affordable taxis found in every corner of Sri Lanka
Travelling using the public transport system in Sri Lanka is the best gateway to be a part of the true Sri Lankan experience. The public trains & buses give a mindful insight into the travel affairs/habits of a common Sri Lankan. Apart from saving you a pile of cash, these buses or train rides can be extremely rewarding. The majestic sceneries, friendly locals & happenings around you will bring you closer to the authentic Sri Lankan culture. Train rides, in particular, are grand throughout the country, but a train ride towards Badulla or Kandy will definitely make you travel back to Sri Lanka many times more.
The public transport system is much cheaper and very affordable even on a backpacker’s budget. There’s even a special grade of luxury buses allocated only for the tourists. The tickets prices are are a bit higher, yet still reasonable.
An efficient road and train network around the country allows for easy travel anywhere easily. Tourists who may find themselves in need to have an aerial view of the country may do so by checking with the local airport flights. The air tickets are often less than 300$, but be sure to check the prices before confirming the booking.
Useful information about Airports, opening times in Sri Lanka
At the Sri Lankan Airport, Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sri_Lanka_airport.jpg
These are the international airports you can find in Sri Lanka.
These are the Domestic airports you can find in Sri Lanka.
Anuradhapura Airport
Batticaloa Airport
Sigiriya Airport
Koggala Airport
WRZ Weerawila Airport
Jaffna Airport (Palaly)
Katukurunda Airport
Kandy Airport (Under Construction)
Iranamadu Airport
Hingurakgoda Airport
Palavi Airport
China Bay Airport
Vavuniya Airport
Getting around by air within Sri Lanka certainly has its merits and this makes the whole experience come with a considerably heavier price tag compared to bus or train travel. But this hasn’t stopped tourists from taking a short trip by plane.
As for international flights to Sri Lanka, the Bandaranaike International Airport handles all inbound and outbound flights. Over the past decade, Sri Lanka significantly increased it’s flight services to the middle-east, Singapore, Malaysia and other European countries. The airport operates all night and day and has 24-hour services such as ATM machines, money exchanges, concierge services, car rentals, hotels and lounges.
Health issues, diseases, risks etc in Sri Lanka
A girl playing with an elephant in the wild
Fortunately, Sri Lanka has had no major disease breakouts recently and it’s mostly safe for both foreigners & locals. However, it is better for tourists to take the necessary vaccines. You can check the list of vaccinations recommended before travelling to Sri Lanka in this article here.
As for travel disease risks, it is recommended that you keep a card of panadol with you for mild headaches on a stressful day. The country however suffered a considerable threat from Dengue, a disease caused by a certain type of mosquito. The situation is successfully contained and sorted out through islandwide dengue prevention programmes.
The most prevalent health risk a tourist may face while in Sri Lanka is Diarrhoea. The culprit here is always attributed to hotels serving unhygienic food and perishable food prepared days ago. Tourists are advised to take a nice long look at the hotels or restaurants for signs of unhygienic conditions.
If you have health conditions such as Diabetes, pressure or other conditions, you can always find hospitals within reach. Government hospitals may treat you for free or charge you a ridiculously small fee. If you want a separate room and special care, there’s always private hospitals and the prices may be heavier depending on the condition.
Heath services and medical costs are lower and very affordable in Sri Lanka. Some tourists travel from countries like the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom for dental services, bypass surgeries and such at Sri Lanka’s top private hospitals since even with all the travelling and hospital bills, it’s only a fraction of what it would cost for the same services in western countries.
There is a famous Buddhist verse in the country, “Arōgyā paramā lābhā” which translates to “Health is the ultimate profit”. This concept is what made the free healthcare for all possible in Sri Lanka. Despite the class, wealth or racial differences, all Sri Lankans vehemently oppose unfair prices on health services or medical costs as they believe all should have access to healthcare even when the patient has no money to pay for the services.
Other useful information about tourism in Sri Lanka
Make plans before you travel
If anyone plans to travel to Sri Lanka without the help of a travel agency, there are a few things to always be prepared for. User Booking.com to reserve your rooms and Eats & Retreats to book holiday villas. This usually gets you the cheapest deals and keeps the hotel owners or hosts in check as you could leave them a negative feedback in case something is wrong. It may sound silly, but negative reviews do great damage to businesses.
The first thing you should do after arriving at the airport is to get a new phone number. The most popular local mobile network is Dialog which has the best coverage in Sri Lanka.
If the chances of you having to take the public bus or trains are high, make sure you download the mobile apps for the Sri Lankan Bus schedule and the Sri Lankan Train Schedule. It’s very important you have them as even locals would not know the precise times of arrivals and departures unless they use the routes frequently.
Keep in mind that Sri Lanka’s emergency dial number is 119. You can contact 119 if you feel you are in danger. The appropriate officers will be dispatched if the danger proves to be real. Have the number with you at all times.
When you take a taxi or a tuk in the Colombo area, you can always use Uber or “PickMe” (The Local adaptation of Uber) to travel. The rates are extremely reasonable and the chances of drivers swindling you out of your money are slim to none. Uber and PickMe often have great offers & promotions, so you may get to travel 30 kilometres for the price of only 15 km.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) took extraordinary measures after the tragedy of 2004 Tsunami to develop decent tourism infrastructure in Sri Lanka. The idea of tourism zones was implemented and each zone was given a theme to abide by. This helped in an effective surge of inbound tourists due to the high quality of service and ease in experiencing the local culture. Many jobs were created in tourism zones specifically to help tourists. Hotels/villas/resorts were given special incentives and attractive benefits which in turn started a wave of new and upcoming markets for the accommodation sector.
When you take a taxi or a tuk in the Colombo area, you can always use Uber or “PickMe” (The Local adaptation of Uber) to travel. The rates are extremely reasonable and the chances of drivers swindling you out of your money are slim to none. Uber and PickMe often have great offers & promotions, so you may get to travel 30 kilometres for the price of only 15 km.