Why now is the best time to book a holiday to Sri Lanka.
Posted on 31st October 2022 at 10:18
As the days are getting colder and shorter, I’m finding myself dreaming of warmer climes. Aren’t you? And as I clutch my fifth cup of tea for the day, I’m pouring over all the usual winter sun destinations that are now emerging on our social media feeds. But I can’t help but feel that one destination has been largely left off the radar.
So let me give you a travel tip - now could be the best time to book a trip to Sri Lanka.
Travellers’ confidence in Sri Lanka as a viable destination is on the rise. The situation on the ground has improved hugely since the change in change in government there in the summer and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has lifted its travel advisory – declaring it safe for British travellers.
Our travel partners in Sri Lanka say it’s safe for tourists to return, protests there have come to a standstill, the pristine beaches are virtually empty and their world class hotels are ready to welcome back tourists.
There’s even talk a team from Disneyland will be visiting Sri Lanka next month to discuss setting up South Asia’s first Disney theme park in Hambantota, in the south of the country. This certainly bodes well for economic recovery.
Of course, there’s still a long road ahead for Sri Lanka - inflation remains high and foreign reserves are critically low (as a result hotel accommodation must be paid in US dollars to help compensate) and yes, there are some power cuts, but hotel generators kick in within seconds.
And the fact remains - hotels, attractions, shops and restaurants are open. A QR-code allocation system has effectively ended the fuel queues, and as for food shortages, Chris Haslam from The Times, who visited recently said you’ll see worse shortages in your local supermarket in the UK.
What’s glaringly obvious, is that tourism is needed to help get this country back on its feet.
The best time to travel to Sri Lanka is January to March. Hotels are anything from 20-40% cheaper than in 2018. But sadly there won’t be cheap airfares, so it’s important to try and book early.
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