After the war

Image via Wikipedia

Tempting tourists back when the bombing stops is never easy, but war-weary Asian countries are planning new treats for travellers in a bid to cash in on a "peace dividend".

Sri Lanka

When government forces claimed victory against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels in May, Sri Lankan tourism chiefs set to work, launching a campaign called "Sri Lanka: Small Miracle", to polish its post-war image.

One of the new activities designed to sell the country on top of its beaches, tea plantations and religious sites is whale watching. The giant mammals frequent the island's shores between December and April.

Dileep Mudadeniya, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau's managing director, estimates the promotional campaign will help raise tourist arrivals by at least 20 per cent to 500,000 visitors in 2010.

Nepal

The number of travellers to Nepal slumped during a 10-year civil war between the army and Maoist rebels which ended in 2006. But last year a record 550,000 people visited the Himalayan state after foreign governments relaxed their travel warnings.

Tourism authorities say they hope to attract a million visitors by 2011 and are focusing on some of the less developed areas of the country, where few foreigners have ventured.

One plan involves creating a "Himalayan Trail", taking trekkers to some of the remotest parts of the country. The trail would link paths already used by local people to transport goods and livestock, and would take three months to complete - with most visitors expected to walk it in stages.

Cambodia

Decades of civil strife under the Khmer Rouge ended in 1998, and tourism is now one of the few sources of foreign exchange for the impoverished South-east Asian nation.

Even though Cambodia now lures more than two million foreign visitors a year, most stay only briefly to see the ancient World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple complex.

"We need time to (change our image)," Ho Vandy, co-chair of Cambodia's tourism working group told AFP. The government last year launched an international "Kingdom of Wonder" campaign promoting the country's eco-tourism and culture.

More than 20 islands have been designated for development while a new airport in seaside Sihanoukville is expected to open later this year. Other plans include a game park for well-heeled hunters in the remote jungle-covered northern Ratanakiri province and several luxury golf courses around the country.

Indian kashmir

Tourists are returning to Indian Kashmir, once described by a 17th-century visiting emperor as a "paradise on earth", as militant violence in the Muslim-majority region subsides to its lowest level since 1989.

In 1988 more than 700,000 tourists visited Kashmir, but the number declined sharply as the insurgency intensified. Now the tide appears to be turning again, with more than 380,000 visiting in the first seven months of 2009. AFP

From TODAY, Traveller – Thursday, 17-Sep-2009

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Paradise reborn

Revisit

SRI LANKA

With the end of a decades-old civil conflict, Sri Lanka's tourism industry is once again open for business

Mark Malby, traveller@newstoday.com.sg

It has all the hallmarks of a postcard cliché - great sweeping arcs of palm-fringed beach, breakers curling in from the green Indian Ocean, and beaches that are pristinely empty, except the odd outrigger canoe. Sri Lanka's south coast, at first glance, truly looks the travel agent's poster of paradise.

Never mind that the tsunami which swept through here in December 2004 decimated these shores. Or that hundreds of kilometres north a civil war has raged for the past 26 years, sharply dividing its Sinhalese and Tamil populations.

But with the formal end of that conflict in May this year and the prospect of a lasting peace ahead, Sri Lanka looks set to finally make its mark as the traveller's destination of choice.

One Island, Many Worlds

A visitor soon realises that this island nation is far more than the sum of its beaches. From the dust and cacophony of Colombo to the cool of the hill country, where tea plantations and small towns nestle in perpetual English spring, Sri Lanka is a land of contrasts.

People come to relax in its Ayurveda spas, to sample its spicy cuisine, to scuba-dive in its clear waters. Or they are drawn by the history - ancient, abandoned cities like Anuradhapura which dates from the 4th century BC. Those in search of wildlife revel in the vast nature preserves of the south-east, where safari-goers can spot elephants, leopards, buffalo and crocodiles in a landscape straight out of the Serengeti. Sri Lanka is not so much one country as it is many worlds, cobbled together in surprising combinations. It's hard to imagine any other place that's as diverse across such short distances.

Rebirth of a Tourist Hub

Much of its tourism was on-hold during the war years. With terrorist bombs in Colombo, unrest in various parts of the country, and fierce fighting in the north, Sri Lanka was a regular on the 'travel warning' blacklists of many consulates. That didn't stop the more adventurous tourists from venturing there - intrepid backpacker types, or those limiting themselves to the relatively calm south.

But with the conflict behind them now, Sri Lankans are gearing up for a brighter future, not just in the travel industry but in all areas of life. "People are extremely optimistic about the potential ahead and this is creating a vibrancy and 'can do' attitude that is infectious," says Mr Jerome Auvity, general manager of the Hilton, Colombo.

The Hilton has already noted an increase in booking enquiries, and like other travel-related industries, is hoping to spark new demand with promotional packing.

With much of the north and east now freed from conflict, there is clearly untapped potential waiting in the wings.

"Sri Lanka will be the place to watch out for in the coming years as it rightfully takes its place as a key travel destination in Asia," says Asif Ansar, a journalist. He cites previously untouched regions like the east coast or the country's north, with its rich marine life, as up-and-coming eco-tourism hotspots. "The end in fighting has opened up large tracts of jungle and beaches that were once inaccessible and unsafe to visit." It won't be long before the hotel developers and tourist touts realise the same.

Still, all signs are pointing to a bright future for a country which, even during a time of war, considered tourism a key source of revenue. "We are living in a 'golden period' in Sri Lankan history, I believe," says Mr Auvity, of the Hilton.

In Buddhism, the term "Jati" refers to the arising of a new entity - a rebirth, in essence. With lasting peace, we can fully expect Sri Lanka - particularly its relatively untapped north and east - to take a prominent spot in the pantheon of tourism.

Six Must-sees of Sri Lanka

Galle & the South Coast - colonial charm, great surfing, diving, sea-side hotels and palm-lined beaches.

Kandy & the Hill Country - tea plantations, scenic hikes, botanical gardens, Buddhist monuments, and a year-round spring climate.

Yala National Park - arid coastal plains bristling with wildlife: snap leopards, elephants, water buffalo, storks, crocodiles and langur monkeys on safari.

Ancient Cities - water gardens and sacred temples, 5th century fortress palaces, and Anuradhapura (abandoned in 1073) make up this 'cultural triangle'.

Kalpitiya - rich marine life, diving and whale-watching; take out a boat and be surrounded by hundreds of dolphins.

East Coast - off-limits during the war years, unspoiled beaches and thick jungles; see them before the hotels and tourist hordes arrive.

From TODAY, Traveller – Thursday, 25-Jun-2009

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Philippine Country Fair

Quick Tours

CATCH OF THE WEEKEND

See, hear, smell and taste Philippines without stepping out of Singapore. Journey instead to Plaza Singapura, where the Philippine Country Fair will be held from tomorrow until Sunday.

Organised to celebrate the Philippines’ National Day on Friday, the event will showcase the country’s culture, arts and attractions.

Visitors can watch the weaving and painting of Filipino textiles and handicrafts and listen to Filipino singers. But what is a country festival without a buffet of its food? Local Filipino restaurant 7,107 Flavours will whip up a menu to feature the Philippines’ regional dishes.

Go on Saturday to see the beauty and beast of the Philippines unleashed, as that’s when the grand finale of beauty pageant “Mutya ng Pilipinas” and demonstrations of Filipino martial arts will be held.

What’s more, lucky draws will be conducted throughout the festival, with prizes being airfares to Manila and the plum win, an all-inclusive tour package to the city. Kaylene Hong

From TODAY, Traveller – Thursday, 11-Jun-2009

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