Conde Nast Traveler magazine, amongst the worlds leading travel magazines, has listed Sri Lanka as one of the top five destinations to watch out in 2012. This year Sri Lanka secures third position as one of the hottest new tourist destinations, the world over.
The magazine believes that, ‘One of the great joys of travel is the feeling you've discovered somewhere special, somewhere that's all yours, for the first time - before the developers move in and the crowds descend. It could be a new and unexplored region, like the Arctic Circle, or an entire country that has been off-limits to tourists for political reasons, such as Sri Lanka and Burma.’
Dubbed as ‘the coasts less travelled’, Sri Lanka is lauded for its authentic journey which unfolds when visiting the tranquil regions of the north and east coasts.
According to the magazine, ‘the north and east coasts are undeveloped and their natural beauty is unspoiled. You can find yourself the only tourist in the traditional villages, and the only person on some of the country's most beautiful beaches. Indeed, those beaches on the east coast have fine sand and calm, clear waters, unlike the surf destinations on the west. This does, of course, mean top-class accommodation is still limited - but for many, finding charming guesthouses or rustic beach huts is all part of the adventure; and being first to discover a place never loses its thrill.’
This recent accolade closely follows the country’s further achievement, by securing a position in National Geographic Traveler magazine’s “Best Trips 2012” – which recognised the island as one of the top six destinations in the world to visit in the year 2012.