Do you dare to travel to Sri Lanka? Yes, a fantastic country!

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Do you dare to travel to Sri Lanka? We get that question sometimes, and it feels pretty obvious to answer right now. Absolutely! Tourism has started again and we have friends who have been to the country just recently. I (Helena) was at the Sri Lankan embassy yesterday, where I listened to the ambassador and ate a good Sri Lankan buffet.

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Evening at the Sri Lankan Embassy

Sri Lanka's ambassador to Stockholm, Senadheera Sudantha Ganegama Arachchi, gave an introductory presentation last night and then we listened to representatives of the airline Emirates, which flies to Sri Lanka. Our blog colleague Christian, from Food and travel blog, also told us briefly about her trip to Sri Lanka with her family this summer. Then there was a mingle and buffet with Sri Lankan food.

Tough period for tourism

Tourism was booming in Sri Lanka when the country was hit by a nasty terrorist attack by extremists last spring. The country suffered severely from the attack and tourism slowed down dramatically. In May, tourism decreased by more than 70 per cent compared to the same period last year. It's tough! Those of us who have relatively recently been to Sri Lanka couldn't help but wonder what happened to all the small hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and drivers, who were perhaps already struggling to make ends meet.

Is it safe to travel to Sri Lanka now?

The MFA's advice against travelling to Sri Lanka was already lifted at the beginning of the summer, as security had improved. The security situation is now back to normal, and security at airports and hotels, for example, has been increased. Do people dare to travel to Sri Lanka now? Yes, travelling to Sri Lanka is safe and secure. Of course, there are always some risks associated with travelling (or going out of the door) and it is always wise to check the current security situation at Sweden Abroad.

Free visa to Sri Lanka

Following the decline in tourism, Sri Lanka has decided, among other things, to offer free visas to visitors from 48 different countries, including Sweden. Some newspapers have written that you do not need a visa, but that is not true. You have to apply for a visa as before, but you don't have to pay for it.

Why should you travel to Sri Lanka?

We visited Sri Lanka in winter 2018/2019, and this is a country we really fell in love with. Travelling in Sri Lanka is varied and exciting and you can mix and match between wildlife, culture and beach life. Here are ten reasons to travel to Sri Lanka:

1. The amazing wildlife
2. Safari and river safari
3. Lion Mountain Sigiriya
4. Beaches and surfing
5. The world's most beautiful railway and tea gardens
6. The temples in Anuradhapura, Kandy and Dambulla
7. The beautiful city of Galle
8. Cheap and cosy hotels
9. The exotic food
10. Meetings with people

Have you been to Sri Lanka, or have you thought about travelling there?

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