Lanka takes top honours as world’s best destination in 2019

Sri Lanka has been named by Lonely Planet, the travel guide, as the top country to visit in 2019.

The ranking was released in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2019, where its judges assessed the world’s hottest destinations. In its 14^th annual collection, the guide has listed the hottest countries, cities and regions to visit next year.

Sri Lanka was placed number one ahead of Germany and Zimbabwe – the next two ranked countries.

Piedmont, Italy, was named the hottest region and Copenhagen the number one city to visit. Australia’s Red Centre was listed fourth in the Top 10 Regions.

The Guardian online says” Better transport links, new hotels and a growing number of activities were cited as the reason the south-Asian island was chosen for the top spot in the guide book publisher ’s annual Best in Travel awards.

The guardian quotes Lonely Planet author Ethan Gelber  as saying: “Already notable to intrepid travellers for its mix of religions and cultures, its timeless temples, its rich and accessible wildlife, its growing surf scene and its people who defy all odds by their welcome and friendliness after decades of civil conflict, this is a country revived.”

“Unmissable experiences include wildlife, such as the 300-strong elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park, thousand-year old Buddhist monuments, and hiking and train travel through the 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 have opened up Jaffna and much of the north for the first time since 1990 – an area that was previously considered too dangerous for tourists, says the Guardian.

“The scenic rail routes in Sri Lanka are now widely thought to be some of the best in the world. Motorways have also been built as far south as Matara, and the number of domestic flight routes has increased in recent years, too: for instance, from the capital Colombo, on the east coast, to Batticaloa, on the opposite of the island, in 45 minutes.

“There has also been a huge investment in new visitor accommodation: from 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 surf scene has been steadily growing, as more of the coast has become accessible, and tour operators are now offering jungle hiking, alongside yoga breaks with traditional Ayurveda treatments. There are also plenty of free attractions, including colourful 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 colonial old town of Galle in the south.

“While the ratio of tourists to residents is relatively low compared with countries where over-tourism is now a major issue, some conservationists have expressed concern over the speed of development in certain areas,” concludes the Guardian.

Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions for 2019 are:

1. Piedmont, Italy
2. The Catskills, USA
3. Northern Peru
4. The Red Centre, Australia
5. Scotland’s Highlands and Islands
6. Russian Far East
7. Gujarat, India
8. Manitoba, Canada
9. Normandy, France
10. Elqui Valley, Chile

Top 10 Countries 2019

1. Sri Lanka
2. Germany
3. Zimbabwe
4. Panama
5. Kyrgyzstan
6. Jordan
7. Indonesia
8. Belarus
9. Sao Tome and Principe
10. Belize

Top 10 Cities 2019

1. Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Shenzhen, China
3. Novi Sad, Serbia
4. Miami, Florida, USA
5. Kathmandu, Nepal
6. Mexico City, Mexico
7. Dakar, Senegal
8. Seattle, USA
9. Zadar, Croatia
10. Meknes, Morocco

Best Value Destinations 2019

1. Southern Nile Valley, Egypt
2. Lodz, Poland
3. Great Smoky Mountains NP, USA
4. Maldives
5. Houston, USA
6. Argentina
7. Bangladesh
8. Albania
9. Ecuador
10. Slovenia

“These are the places to experience in 2019”, says Lonely Planet’ spokesperson Chris Zeiher of the lists, which are decided upon and ranked by a panel of judges. “They might be coming into their own, celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime event or simply have been overlooked for too long – whatever the reason, now is the time to plan a trip.”