Sri Lanka Beach Tourism Welcomes you

 

 

Due to its distinctive location in the centre of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has been specially induced as an island that is an ideal destination for tourism and related multifaceted activities. The label Pearl of Indian Ocean was inherited by Sri Lanka due to its unique location, along with the warm-sun kissed beaches that run all around the island. With nearly 1600 kilometres of coastline flanked by white sandy beaches, swinging tropical palms, and surrounded by clear waters teeming with marine life polished to perfection surrounds the country while making Sri Lanka more attractive for tourists throughout the land.

Mirissa Beach

Basically, the main of Sri Lanka tourism is its beaches. The breath-taking panoramas of beaches have become the ultimate reason to choose this small island as an ideal tourist destination for many tourists to spend their vacations. Having a look into the distribution of Beaches in Sri Lanka, the western coastline exhibits the island at its most developed, modernized, and tourist-oriented region. Starting from Negombo in the north to Hikkaduwa in the south, the coastline is dotted with magnificent beaches. Moreover, Tangalle, Beruwala, Mirissa, Bentota, and Unawatuna are among the best Down-South Tourists destinations which are popular among tourists. This region represents the island, in essence, offers beautiful beaches, colonial villages, and exceptional wildlife parks, as well as a plethora of Buddhist temples and shrines. Then the East Coast of Sri Lanka is undeniably picturesque. The settlement of Arugam Bay, located towards the southern end of the east coast, is a favourite destination for independent travellers drawn by the allure of its spectacular beach. Surfers first placed the hamlet on the map by arriving to ride what is commonly considered to be some of Sri Lanka's best waves for surfing. 

This fabulous nature blesses to promote beach tourism in Sri Lanka. ‘Beach tourism’ can be defined as a travel to beach and engage in varied activities on the beaches specially for the purpose of recreation, leisure, or business purposes by people those who love to experience the sea breeze, sandy beaches, and warmth of the sun (beach lovers). 

 

Beach tourism in Sri Lanka consists of activities like windsurfing, snorkelling, water skiing, scuba diving, or sun-bathing which permits to any beach lover. Sri Lanka promotes beach tourism destinations like Passikuda, Arugambay, and many more. Arugam Bay and Passikuda on east coast of Sri Lanka are the ideal locations for surfing vacation from June to October.  Additionally, Unawatuna on the southwest coast is also popular in surfing, but during the months of November to May. 

Pigeon Island

 

Jet skiing is another popular water-based activity perform on the island's east, west, and south coast beaches for instances Unawatuna, Negombo, Kalpitiya, Passikuda and also in man-made lakes and lagoons around the country. A water sports complex in Bentota on the southwest coast offers jet skiing. Further, Kitesurfing exists as a thrilling sport that mixes snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into a single activity. Usually, tourists have been demanding for kitesurfing in Kalpitya due to its regular windy weather and thin sandbar that divides the lagoon out from the ocean providing adequate waters for this activity. In addition, deep water diving becomes popular in Batticaloa, Nilaveli, Negombo, and Unawatuna.

                        

The beach tourism initially aims to promote beaches combined with facilities and activities which would be able to deliver the unforgettable experiences for tourists. In order to cater the accommodation needs of those travellers who look into beach tourism, majority of the hotels are built along the coastline of Sri Lanka. It has affected on host community and destinations positively and negatively.

Marble Beach-Trincomalee

Positive impacts are development of basic infrastructure like highways, airports, roads, etc., increase of income, community involvement in tourism, enhancing quality of life, generating direct and indirect employment, investment in conservation of culture and arts, exchange of culture, a celebration of inheritance and history and culture, development of small and scale enterprises near beaches etc.

 

 

In contrast, negative impacts derived from beach tourism environmental degradation, archaeological ruins, illegal companies, black money frauds, thefts, drugs trafficking, prostitution, HIV threat, gambling, and rising crime rates.

 

Baththalangunduwa Beach

However, some of the major issues are continuously appeared in hotspots like Hikkaduwa which will be badly influenced on destination image. Hence, activation of proper monitoring mechanism is highly needed to regulate and sustain the concept of Beach tourism in Sri Lanka

 

 

Written by: Samadhi Dodantenna