SRI LANKA

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SRI LANKA
Destination Analysis
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HISTORY

• Late-6th c Sinhalese
• 14th c South Indian Dynasty
• 16th c Portuguese
• 17th c Dutch
• 1796 ceded to British
• 1802 crown colony
• 1815 united under British rule
• February 4, 1948 granted Independence
• 1972 Ceylon to Sri Lanka

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Location

• Middle of the Indian Ocean
• Land Area 65,610 sq km
• Terrain low to flat rolling plains, with
  mountains in the southern interior
  
• Monsoon
• December to March North Eastern
• June to October South Western
• Occasional cyclones tornados

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Government

• Republic
• Legal System English Common Law, Roman-Dutch,
  Muslim, Sinhalese, and Customary Law
  
• Currency Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR)

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Socio-Cultural Aspects

• Official National Language Sinhala
• Primary Ethnic Group Sinhalese (74)
• Primary Religion Buddhism
• 2002 Population 19,576,783
• Growth rate 0.83

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Early Tourism in Sri Lanka

• 1948-1966 First attempts to draw international
  visitors
  
• 1966 Ceylon Tourists Board established
• Later changed to Sri Lanka Tourist Board
• 1967 Ceylon Tourism Plan
• 1970s 21 annual increase in visitor arrivals

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Tourism in Sri Lanka

• 1980s Social and Political Unrest
• Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists
• Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
• Janatha Vimukti Peramuna
• Political organization for youths
• 1997 SAARC meeting at Colombo
• Sri Lanka A Land Like No Other
• 400,000 Visitors annually

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Attractions

• Tropical Beach destination
• 1,340 km coastline, warm tropical weather
• Water sports
• Educational Tours
• Cultural, historic, and religious sites
• Ecotourism
• Diverse wildlife, tea plantations
• Shopping
• Handicrafts, gems, pottery

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Top Attractions

• COLOMBO Capital
• Ancient Temples, churches, mosques
• HILL COUNTRY
• Lush scenery, botanical and tea gardens

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Cultural Triangle

• Links the ancient capitals of
• Kandy
• Anuradhapura
• Polonnaruwa
• Sigiriya
• UNESCO Cultural Triangle Project
• US 32.50
• 2nd largest item of revenue

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Accommodations

• Expanded since 1999
• South Coast 43 of guests nights
• East Coast considerable potential
• Hotel Association of Sri Lanka
• Guest houses, home stays, bungalows, bed
  breakfast units

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Transporation

• Airlines
• Sri Lanka Airlines
• 30 other carriers
• Bus network
• Inter-City Express
• Extensive road system
• Rapid Transit System

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Tourist Arrivals
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Tourist Arrivals

• Western Europe
• Germany
• Asia
• India
• North America
• Average Expenditure 2002 63.1
• Average Duration of Stay 2002 10.2
• Inbound Sri Lanka Association of Inbound
  Operators (SLAITO)
  
• Outbound Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka

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Impacts of Tourism on Sri Lanka

• Environmental
• Coastal degradation
• Deforestation, water and air pollution
• Social
• Child Labor Child Prostitution
• Ethnic Inequality
• Diseases
• Economical
• Unemployment problems
• Widespread poverty

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5-Year Outlook Tourism in Sri Lanka

• Optimistic
• Political and Social stability
• Increased Visitor Arrivals
• India Market
• MICE
• International Assistance to fund infrastructure
  improvements
  
• Slight increase in Nights stay
• Promote new product niches
• Ecotourism, Health/Wellness Tourism