Sri Lanka ranked first by Lonely Planet | Travel

Almost 10 years after the end of its civil war, Sri Lanka has been named the best country in the world by Lonely Planet. Better transportation links, have been cited as the leading Asian-American guidebook publisher's annual Best in Travel awards.

"Already known to its traveling companions for its mix of religions and cultures, its timeless temples, its rich and accessible wildlife, its growing surfing scene and its people. revived, "says Lonely Planet author Ethan Gelber in the Best in Travel 2019 book, published today.

"Unmissable experiences" include wildlife, such as the 300-strong elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park, 1000-year old Buddhist monuments, and Hill Country's tea plantations.

Tourist visits to Sri Lanka have increased dramatically since the end of the 26-year conflict, from 447,890 in 2009 to an all-time high of 2.1 million last year, a figure the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority hopes to double by 2020. Renovations made to the rail system has opened up to the world. The scenic rail routes in Sri Lanka are now widely believed to be some of the best in the world. Motorways have also been developed as Matara, and the number of domestic flights has increased in recent years, too: for instance, from the capital Colombo, on the east coast, to Batticaloa, on the opposite side of the island, 45 minutes.

There has been a huge amount of investment in this area – from the homestays to high-end eco retreats – such as the Wild Coast Lodge's cocoon-like buildings in Yala National Park. Major international hotel chains, including Shangri-La, Mövenpick, Sheraton, and Grand Hyatt, are all opening new properties.

Sri Lanka's surfing has been steadily growing, along with traditional yoga breaks with traditional Ayurveda treatments. There are also plenty of free attractions, including colorful puja rituals on the clifftop of Koneswaram Kovil in Trincomalee in the north east; Colombo's main market of Pettah; and the fortified walls surrounding the old colonial town of Galle in the south.

While the ratio of tourists to residents is relatively high, it is important to note that some people are interested in certain areas of development.

"Tourism is a major income generator for the country. Unfortunately, much of our tourism is focused on numbers of tourists [rather than] the investment they make in the country, "says Asha de Vos, marine biologist and founder of Sri Lanka-based conservation organization Oceanswell.

"To accommodate the numbers, we are building more and more and taking over natural spaces. The pressure on our wildlife and cultural sites is huge and destructive. The over-development is ongoing and unending – and because of the lack of coordination and planning, many hotels lie empty. So while tourism has its positive, if done haphazardly and without planning you destroy the very resources that draw people in. "

Your claims are affected by the nature of the environment, and the extent to which they are being exceeded is not sufficient.

She believes tourism in Sri Lanka can be beneficial, but it needs to be regulated. "Sustainability should be at the core of any tourism product that is created."

Human rights charities have also criticized large-scale tourism developments for their negative impact on local people.

Lonely Planet's Best Lonely Planet, ranked by the staff of Lonely Planet, among the editors and contributors from around the world. Germany is ranked second in the country list, with a nod to the centenary of Bauhaus next year, and Zimbabwe – where tourists are starting to return after the resignation of Robert Mugabe – comes in third. In fifth position is Kyrgyzstan, which has 2,700km of newly-marked trekking routes. Copenhagen, Shenzhen in China, and Nova Sad in Serbia were named after the world's most popular cities. in the number of car-rental companies offering alternatives to petrol and diesel vehicles.

For the full list of winners, visit lonelyplanet.com