An exciting new publication ‘ Best Experience....Sri Lanka : A Guide for Responsible Travelers will be introduced and distributed to all visitors, free of charge  to enhance the enjoyment and experience of a traveller to Sri Lanka.
Click here to download.(5.64MB )

Feedback form
If you have already received a copy our Best Experience….Sri Lanka: A Guide for Responsible of the booklet on your arrival to Sri Lanka and want to complete a feedback form,
Please click here to download the form and e-mail it to rtp@sltnet.lk.

Insider Guide to  Sri Lanka
By thinking a little about your holiday destination before you travel, and taking some simple steps when you are there, you can gain so much more from your holiday. You will also be making a positive contribution to the people and the places you visit

Sri Lanka
This stunningly beautiful island destination offers a rare combination of holiday options from golden beaches to historical ancient cities, lush tea plantations and a variety of wildlife, complimented with vibrant culture.Sri Lanka has had a long history of tourism dating as far back as the early 1960’s. Today the destination offers a number of well developed resorts, boutique properties and off the beaten track offers equally popular amongst families, couples and single travelers alike.

Warm friendly people
Sri Lanka, a great smiling nation is known for its warm friendly people. You will always be greeted with a smile whether in your hotel or on the road. Don’t hesitate to smile back with a stranger. Locals are very friendly towards visitors.

Local language
The country has three official languages including English which is widely spoken. It can be great fun learning a few phrases in Sinhalese or Tamil.  This is certainly a great way to make friends.  Saying ‘Ayubowan’ with your hands clasped together is the main greeting as well saying good bye. Ayubowan  means – may you be blessed with long life.

Respect the rights, feelings and privacy of Sri Lankans
When visiting local communities let your behaviour be guided by the people you meet there. Sri Lankans are very hospitable and are friendly towards visitors, however respect their privacy. Always take advice from your guide and seek permission before you enter anyone’s home, a community building or a gathering.

Local customs
Cultural practices, traditions & religion play a strong part in the local way of life. Lifestyles are generally centered on customs and religious importance; this is especially strong in the rural areas. There are number of festivals and a busy calendar of events for cultural & religious activities. You will find that every full moon day of the month is declared a Buddhist ‘Poya’ holiday. Sale of liquor is prohibited on this day.

Ask for permission before photographing local people & places
Always ask before taking photographs of people and places. Some religious sites and certain ceremonies are restricted from being photographed. If you are taking pictures, first ask. Most locals will be very happy to be photographed. Pay respect to sacred sites and statues and do not pose in front of those if you are scantly dressed.

When visiting religious sites
Remember to remove head gear, footwear and cover your body reasonably well when visiting Buddhists temples and other religious places. Locals generally wear white or sober colours. Conservative dress is the norm.

Enjoy some life outside the all-inclusive hotels
If your holiday is ‘all-inclusive’, take some time to eat and drink outside your hotel. Eating and drinking outside your hotel can be an enjoyable way to learn something about the country as well as helping local people and the country’s local economy gain some benefits from tourism. It can also be great fun to participate in community & hotel guests interactions such as beach volleyball and cricket!!

Try the local dishes
A large choice of locally grown tropical and exotic fruits, vegetables and fresh seafood are widely available. Sometimes locals might perceive, possibly wrongly that you like to eat western types of food all the time. Try and taste delicious local dishes. Most indigenous culinary practices often offer wellness and health benefits. Rice and assortments of fish/meat and vegetable curries, mostly cooked in coconut milk, makes a typical meal. Sri Lanka is the home for spices, so remember, to taste ‘Spice & Rice and Everything Nice!!!'

Be fair with your bargaining
Other than in a main store with price marked items, there are plenty of opportunities for bargaining. Remember, bargaining should be seen as an opportunity to build a social relationship between seller and buyer, not simply as a competitive economic exchange. Agree on a fair final price, considering the time and effort that has been spent in making the product. Remember, a small saving for you can be a significant amount to the seller.

Shopping
Shopping in Sri Lanka is excellent value for money. The destination offers exciting shopping for quality garments & fabrics, gems & jewelry, souvenirs, lifestyle items, various memorabilia, and informative colorful coffee table books on various themes of Lanka. At times, especially in the resort areas you will encounter local street sellers offering various goods and excursions; be tolerant of their lack of language and marketing skills. Buying local souvenirs helps the local economy and supports livelihoods.

Local  Crafts
In many areas you can find crafts that are special to that specific area. Buying from producer groups directly not only supports the local workers and their families, it also helps create awareness and education on age old crafts handed down from generations to generations. Your appreciation for local crafts will help revive dying and disappearing arts and crafts.

Take only photographs and leave only foot prints
You will discover a striking variety of wildlife, plants, shells and some rare and ancient items. This is Sri Lanka’s heritage and should remain where it belongs to. It is illegal to collect and export archaeological relics and certain plant varieties. Avoid buying souvenirs that exploit wildlife or threaten endangered species.

Protecting Sri Lankan Children
Sri Lanka has a number of laws on child protection and the prevention of child abuse. Under domestic law, the definition of a child is anyone below the age of eighteen years and child abuse includes all acts of sexual violence against, trafficking in and cruelty to children. The law prohibits the use of children in exploitative labour or illegal activities. The severe penalties exist for sexual exploitation and child trafficking. Procurers and those who knowingly allow a child to be abused on their premises also face the same penalties as those directly abusing a child.

Help preserve the environment
Sri Lanka’s rain forests, national parks and marine life are beautiful but fragile. When visiting these sites or enjoying snorkeling or diving on the reefs, refrain from touching or collecting shells and corals or creating any other forms of negative impact. To help offset some of the global warming carbon dioxide emissions created by your travel, you can select from a number of Carbon balancing programmes that are available. A very simple action would be to participate in re-forestation or tree planting while you are in Sri Lanka through our ‘Trees for Life Programme’. This will not only off set CO2 emissions but will also provide staple food and valuable timber for locals in the long term.

Conservation of energy & water
Sometimes, you might not know the extent of scarce resources used to make your visit a comfortable one. Use air conditioning, electricity and water sparingly. Remember to turn off lights, air conditioning, television and taps when not in use.

Entry fees
Most visitor attraction centers, such as national parks and historical cultural sites have two tiers of entry tickets, a lower amount for locals and a higher amount for visitors. These wildlife and heritage conservation sites are depended heavily on the income that you bring to help maintain the sites. Feel happy that your entry fees make an important contribution to conservation in Sri Lanka.

Litter
As in any other destination, Sri Lanka too needs to address ever increasing needs to reduce, collect and recycle litter. Therefore, the less litter you create will be better for everyone. Remove all unwanted packaging material and avoid disposable goods before you leave your home country.

Tsunami recovery
Despite the 2004 Asian Tsunami devastation, the tourism facilities are fully functional for tourism. Tourism has bounced back with visitors patronising popular beach resorts. Don’t get deterred and think that the country is not ready for tourists, in fact, all areas are back to normal. Your decision to visit the country will help secure the livelihoods of the local communities. A significant number of jobs are dependent on the tourism industry.

Continuing to support
You may come across communities in need of a helping hand. We suggest that you support humanitarian or conservation efforts that are promoted by your tour operator or their local counterpart. For example, giving money to children will encourage begging and keep them away from schools. Therefore, select a charity that you can either support while you are on holiday or after you have returned home. Areas such as school projects and tsunami recovery housing projects can be much more rewarding and have long term benefits.