Speak to the thousands of tourists returning home from an exciting vacation in Sri Lanka and it’s proof that this effect is universal. Whether it’s watching the elephant gathering in August or seeing the colorful pageantry of the Kandy Perahara (procession) or watching whales in the eastern coast, Sri Lanka definitely leaves a positive impression on all those who visit. In fact in true testimony for that, the country records one of the highest numbers of repeat visitors. Since the end of the civil conflict in May 2009, Sri Lanka has recaptured and re-affirmed its position as one of the world’s foremost and safe tourist destinations which offer a diverse range of activities in a very short time period. With tourism being one of the country’s top revenue avenues, there is a keen viewpoint toward making the country a preferred destination.

Statistics speak for themselves and illustrates how well this objective has been achieved; with the percentage of overall tourist arrivals up to 34.2 percent to 2011 against the previous year (source Sri Lanka Tourism) in fact the island exceeded its targeted arrivals before the end of the year in 2011.

With the governments’ focused plan which aims to strengthen the tourism industry to increase the influx of tourists to Sri Lanka worldwide and also to support related industries which range from handicrafts, hospitality to traditional ayurvedic medicine; tourists now find more activities and indulgences than before and having a stronger appeal toward choosing Sri Lanka over other destinations.

The country is blessed with its beaches (rated amongst the top ten in the world), climatic conditions which vary from the chilly central to the warm north and south, cultural destinations from thousands of years ago and above all the friendly, welcoming and warm nature of its people. Tourist arrivals are expected to exceed 1 million in 2012 (over 60,000 tourists visited the country within the first 16 days of January 2012) (source Sri Lanka Tourism).

With a strong infrastructure in place to promote the industry and a renewed drive toward investments in the tourism sphere has resulted in tourism reaching the top of the government’s revenue generators. The industry employs 55,000 people directly, and another 90,000 indirectly with new opportunities mounting up tremendously. The sector is expected to create one million jobs by 2020 in food and chemicals, laundry services, maintenance, making souvenirs, transport, beach vendors, Food & Beverage, Construction, Handicrafts, Transport, IT and Gem & Jewelry (source lbr.lk).

The latest additions to the long list of activities that one can look forward to in Sri Lanka are Aero Adventure packages that include hot air ballooning, sky diving and parachuting. Highly qualified and experienced instructors with licensed trainers take you through a thrill filled journey.

Working toward a clear and concise goal, to have 2.5 million tourists by 2016, the government has invested heavily on tourism specific projects such as construction of 10 hotels in Pasikudah located in the eastern sector of the island. Filled with sandy beaches, scenic jungles and heritage sites, Pasikuda is the latest destination to be included in every tourist’s itinerary.

Even prominent existing hotels have begun a gamut of refurbishment work with the government aiding them, this coupled with a wave of high end corporates in Sri Lanka and abroad investing heavily on new hotel chains (Shangri La and Movenpick to name a few) has paved the way forward toward ensuring that accommodation never becomes an issue. An emerging trend in new hotels is the concept of themed hotels and resorts of which a prime example are the star rated hotels located in the middle of the wilderness, a unique experience which blends the adventure of wildlife environment with star class luxury.

Another popular theme emerging are the range of boutique hotels located in tea plantations; scenic hotels and luxury bungalows in the middle of lush, green tea plantations are a soothing journey physically and spiritually. To cater to specific large catchment of tourists, Sri Lanka Tourism has implemented a program to train tour guides in different languages which would mean ease of communications. With the view of promoting tourism in key markets the government has taken steps to represent Sri Lanka at trade fairs, conventions and conferences internationally delegated by experienced tourism professionals.

Further Changes are being made in the agricultural, educational and ayurvedic sectors to suit the needs of the tourism industry and ensure that these industries are aligned toward tourism.

Related industries such as cultural dance troupes, souvenir manufacture, wild life and eco tours are experiencing a jolt with financial assistance and other support programs being set up by the ministry and other government bodies.

A key government initiative toward preserving the green lung reputation held by Sri Lanka is conversation programs for coral reefs and forests, new regulations with regards to coral reefs and deforesting have been enforced with focus on ensuring environmental balance.

Though the country has its conventional tourists from Europe, a striking feature is the marked increase in the Asian sector with high number of Chinese, Indian, Maldivian tourists coming to Sri Lanka in 2011. And within that a remarkable fact to note is that tourists from new destinations overall showed a phenomenal increase, Middle Eastern tourist arrivals have shown an unprecedented hike, with more than 37000 numbers 2011. Staggering number of arrivals was primarily from Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Capitalizing on this new wave, many tour operators and leisure companies have come out with tailor made packages for the Middle Eastern traveler. From family excursions, wild life safaris and adventure holidays, a vast platter of adapted activities suited for Middle Eastern tourists have been formulated and offered. Given Sri Lanka’s vast geographical diversity, exotic and tropical flora, wildlife unique to the island, it makes for a perfect getaway for the Middle Eastern travelers seeking to explore and escape into different locales.

The warm, helpful and welcoming nature of the locals is akin to the long Arabian traditions of utmost hospitality to guests and puts one at ease immediately.

Sri Lanka’s famed gems, jewelry and souvenirs are a staple in every travelers list and boasting of experiences like the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage where tourists can actually feed baby elephants creates a level of excitement rarely offered by other countries. Something that truly sets Sri Lanka apart is the wide choice of activities offered as a package, be it a wildlife vacation (national parks, bird watching, butterfly farms, waterfalls, whale watching etc.,), an heritage vacation (culture, seasonal events, heritage sites, places of pilgrimage, ayurvedic etc), or an adventure vacation (mountain climbing, caving, white water rafting, scuba diving etc.,), activities to cater to everyone in the family is provided in one destination.

A truly multi cultural environment, Sri Lanka has embraced social norms and advancement whilst retaining its core traditional values, which hold great appeal to the particular segment of middle eastern tourists. With the global economic climate still somewhat gloomy, tourists tend to opt for cost effective and affordable destinations which deliver value for money; hence the pricing scale in Sri Lanka translates into a more affordable option when compared to other destinations. Making the ease of processing and customer’s convenience a priority, Sri Lanka Tourism has set up offices at key Middle Eastern locations and affiliated with top travel companies to provide complete and comprehensive advice and assistance on vacations in Sri Lanka. Further online tools able to provide information in the fastest manner possible have also been installed for the tech savvy Middle Eastern traveler. In fact, in what some consider to be a trickle down effect of high tourism traffic, Sri Lanka is also experiencing a sudden surge in direct foreign investments by prominent middle eastern companies in the tourism sector, with Qatar headlining the way with sizeable investments in hotels, resorts and other related ventures.

On the road to economic recovery from a devastating three-decade-old ethnic conflict, Sri Lanka is well on its path with key economic indicators all indicating an upward trend and positive response from the international community. The international community sees the country in a whole new light with its opportunities and offerings as a true paradise isle. As it celebrates its 64th year of independence, the country looks toward the future with hope, pride and a new dawn of prosperity. A veritable cornucopia of culture, natural wildlife, heritage, religion and warm people Sri Lanka is truly a marvel that adds color and a touch of mystique to the world.