SRI LANKA: Tourists To Miss Out On Travel Insurance

Tourists who want to postpone travel to Sri Lanka in after the bomb attacks that killed 290 people will not be covered by their travel insurance.

The UK Foreign Office (FCO) updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka on Monday to include details of the nationwide curfew and pending state of emergency.

However, it is unlikely the FCO would issue a warning advising against all travel to Sri Lanka: such warnings area rare and usually region-specific.

Reflecting the increased threat, the FCO's current advice states:

Security has been stepped up across the island and there are ongoing security operations. These may continue for a number of days and the situation remains dynamic.

Please follow the advice of local security authorities, hotel security staff and your tour company. The airport is operating, but with increased security checks and long queues for taxi pick-ups.

Travel policies will not cover cancellations unless the FCO specifically advises against travel to the destination. Travel insurance does not cover disinclination to travel, said a spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

People's best recourse is to go to the holiday company they have booked through to discuss whether they can change their plans.

A traveller to Sri Lanka said: The situation seems to be changing by the hour and we'd hoped the FCO would be able to update its advice more than once a day, but it's obviously a terrible time for their staff, too.

We're mostly just grateful to be safe, but it seems odd that more and more Brits are arriving clueless, even as a state of emergency is announced. We can't make a claim unless the FCO advises against travel, which it hasn't yet done.

UK-based tour operators said normal booking conditions apply but they would consider requests to postpone travel on a case-by-case basis.

Kuoni said its clients flew to Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, the day of the attacks, and Easter Monday, as scheduled. It is in contact with customers at the destination and with local travel agents.

Tuesday will be a national day of mourning, so we are trying to find out whether excursions might be affected, said a spokesperson.

The Experience Travel Group said of six sets of clients travelling this week, only one had asked to postpone their trip. It too is considering requests, case-by-case.

Some airlines are also allowing travellers to amend their bookings. In a statement released on Easter Sunday, Emirates said customers with existing bookings to or from Colombo made on or before 21 April can amend or cancel flights without charge by contacting their booking agent.

The airline is also advising travellers to arrive at the airport at least four hours before departure this week, due to heightened security measures at Colombo Bandaranaike International airport.

A series of eight bombings targeted Christians at church services in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa and tourists staying in luxury hotels in the capital - killing 290 people, including eight Britons and four US citizens, and injuring 500.

Other countries have issued stricter warnings. The US state department increased its travel advisory level from normal to "exercise increased caution" following the attacks.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised Australians to "reconsider your need to travel and avoid all affected areas".

In recent years, tourism to Sri Lanka has been increasing. This year, Lonely Planet declared it the top country in the world to travel to, citing improved transport links, a rise in the number of hotels , unmissable wildlife experiences and a growing surf scene.

Arrivals of 2.3 million in 2018 represented an increase of more than 400% on 2009, according to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority data. The agency has a target of 4 million visitors by 2020.

On Monday, an 8pm-4am curfew was imposed. People travelling to or from the airport during the curfew have been told to make sure they have travel documentation with them. The curfew has caused confusion among holidaymakers because of to a social media shutdown .

A holidaymaker said of Sunday's curfew Locals seemed unaware that all food places would close, they were under the impression some stuff would be open and you could go to within walking distance.

Our guesthouse owner ended up coming back to the guesthouse as he lived nearby to cook us dinner as nothing else was open.

In the longer term, the impact will depend on the political response to the bombings.

The country as a whole is really focused on tourism and realises the importance of how secure it is. This will undoubtedly be a big step back, said Nick Pulley, managing director of Selective Asia.

The fact the bombings were quick to become a political issue who had been warned and who hadn't is the question.

The attacks are bound to have an impact, i think if people link this incident to the war years, it will bring back all sorts of bad associations for the country.

I don't think it will harm Sri Lankan tourism long term.


Tourism Observer

SOUTH KOREA: Busan Is Best Destination In Asia 2018

The portside city of Busan, South Korea, has been named the best destination in Asia 2018 by the travel experts at Lonely Planet, who describe the bustling city as a confluence of culture and cuisine.

For the third edition of Lonely Planet's Best in Asia list, editors picked 10 destinations worth visiting over the next 12 months, which span East, South and Western Asia.

In May, Busan hosted an opening ceremony celebrating its title as East Asia's Culture City 2018, as part of a joint agreement between Japan, China and Korea.

Every year, three cities are selected to promote artistic and cultural development in the region.

Busan shares the title this year with Harbin, China and Kanazawa in Japan.The city also tops the "Best in Asia" list for offering travelers an eclectic offering of activities, from hikes up to Buddhist temples and hot springs to seafood feasts at the largest fish market in the country, editors say.

Busan is the second-biggest city in South Korea after Seoul.In second spot is Uzbekistan, with its dreamy mosaic clad mosques and Silk Road lore.

Last year, the country announced new visa-free schemes, and introduced new air routes and extensions to its high-speed rail line in an effort to boost international tourism and attract tourists to its jewelled sites and ancient ruins.

And rounding out the podium is Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where vintage boutiques, independent coffee shops and innovative breweries are transforming the city into a buzzing Asian megalopolis.

Here are the top 10 destinations in their Best in Asia 2018 list:

1. Busan, South Korea

In repose between mountains and sea, Busan is a stunning confluence of scenery, culture and cuisine. It’s long been domestically lauded as the country’s best beach getaway, but South Korea’s second largest city packs an eclectic offering of activities to suit all travellers: hike hills to Buddhist temples, settle into sizzling hot springs and feast on seafood still a-wriggle at Jagalchi, the country’s largest fish market.

Bestowed the title of East Asia Culture City for 2018, Busan will be at its most vibrant this year with a medley of colourful events showcasing the country’s cultural heritage, from street art festivals to traditional dance shows.

Plus prestigious international film festival and it seems this second-city is poised to steal the spotlight.

2. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has long held sway over travellers’ imaginations, with its dreamy mosaic-clad mosques and Silk Road lore. But the country has remained largely closed off to the wider world due to tight control following the end of the Soviet era. Thankfully, change finally appears to be afoot.

In late 2017, Uzbekistan took huge strides in opening up to tourism, announcing visa-free and e-visa schemes, new air routes and also extensions to its shiny high-speed rail network, making access to its collection of jewelled architecture and ancient cities easier than ever.

Whilst the country lags behind its neighbours in a few ways, particularly regarding human rights, there is a feeling of hope that, as Uzbekistan enjoys the benefits of being welcoming to all, positive change will follow.

3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Though long heralded as hip, Vietnam's southern supercity somehow keeps getting cooler.

Aging apartment blocks are being colonised by vintage clothes stores and independent coffee shops, innovative breweries like Heart of Darkness and East West Brewing are fuelling one of the best craft beer scenes in Southeast Asia, and a selection of eclectic venues are strengthening the local music scene.

Add these recent developments to the city’s essential long-standing attractions like the War Remnants Museum, which details HCMC’s recent history in eye-opening displays.

A pioneering street food scene and accommodation suited to all standards not forgetting superb flight connections and it appears this buzzing Asian megalopolis is in no danger of going out of style.

4. Western Ghats, India

India’s steamy southern highlands have never garnered the same column inches as the hill stations and Himalayan heights of North India, but the Western Ghats offer an atmospheric mirror to Shimla and Darjeeling, with added jungle appeal.

Traversing Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, these rugged hills are Unesco listed as one of the top spots for biodiversity in the world.

Protecting everything from wild elephants and tigers to the neelakurinji flower, which blooms only once every 12 years and will be painting the hills in purple livery from August to October 2018.

Visit now and you’ll find coffee, tea and spice plantations, charmingly dated colonial outposts, thundering waterfalls, and even a steam-powered mountain railway, while evading the crowds who mob the northern uplands.

5. Nagasaki, Japan

For most international tourists, Nagasaki is synonymous with the tragic atomic bombing of August 1945. Remarkably, the city has converted the catastrophe into a concerted call for peace.

This exemplified by both the tranquil Nagasaki Peace Park , where a simple monolith marks the explosion's hypocentre, and the Atomic Bomb Museum, where hibakusha the atomic bomb survivors make poignant pleas for international nuclear disarmament.

But Nagasaki’s identity transcends one violent act; for centuries Japan’s main foreign trade occurred through Nagasaki's old port, bringing a distinctive East-meets-West character and, notably, Christianity to the city, the influence of which is documented in a new museum housed in Japan’s oldest church.

More leisurely tourist delights also abound, from the verdant harbour to the hiking routes that snake through the surrounding volcanic hills.

6. Chiang Mai, Thailand

With its legion of temples and grand, weather-worn city walls, the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom feels plucked from the pages of history, where visitors browse stalls of antique jewellery as the familiar scent of tilapia grilled in banana leaf fills the air.

A young, creative population has taken up residency in the city, bringing an exciting buzz to the archaic alleyways.

Now, alongside majestic, gold-painted chedis or stupas are cafés known for their latte art, mural-walled restaurants specialising in experimental fusion cuisine.

And the newly-opened, award-winning MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, which, like Chiang Mai itself, draws plaudits for its masterful intertwining of traditional and modern influences.

7. Lumbini, Nepal

For decades, Lumbini was somewhere travellers flashed through en route from India to Nepal, often unaware that they had passed within yards of the birthplace of the historical Buddha.

Thanks to the efforts of the international Buddhist community, Lumbini is on the ascendancy, but despite its heritage, this sacred site remains a sleepy detour off the backpacker trail.

However, change is apace; a new international airport is under construction, offering a new, safer route into Nepal, and ever-more aweing temples are springing up.

While these developments may finally be the catalyst that brings Lumbini the attention it deserves, the town’s cardinal draw will remain its tranquillity – embodied by the rare sarus cranes that stalk the wetlands around the World Peace Pagoda.

8. Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Despite Sri Lanka emerging as one of the world’s hottest travel destinations, Arugam Bay, a surf town on the country’s east coast, has miraculously managed to retain its cool.

While holidaymakers swarm the country’s ancient citadels and hiker-strewn hill stations, here you’ll find barefooted boarders sprawled outside vegan cafes and scrawled signs on hotel doors reading - gone surfing, back soon.

Renowned as a long-time surf haven, the town boasts breaks to satisfy all levels, along with a number of schools to get everyone hanging 10.

If the turquoise swells can’t tug you in, Arugam has authentically grown its on land offering, with an increase in beachside bars and makeshift music festivals; plus a handy proximity to Kumana National Park, home to leopards, elephants and crocodiles.

9. Sichuan Province, China

Far-flung villages, towering skylines, giant pandas and fiery cuisine; Sichuan province is a microcosm of modern China, and 2018 is bursting with reasons to go.

Cosmopolitan Chengdu has become one of the country's design and tech hubs, which also means a mushrooming of luring brewpubs and boutique hotels.

Starting in 2018, travellers will be able to ride the first section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway which will eventually link Chengdu to Lhasa in just 15 hours, west to visit time-frozen Tibetan villages dwarfed by dramatic mountain scenery.

Up north, the exceptional Jiuzhaigou National Park has reopened to limited numbers of visitors after the 2017 quake, while down south spiritual experiences reign supreme: gain perspective surveying the Le Shan Grand Buddha or climb Emei Shan to absolve a lifetime’s sins.

10. Komodo National Park, Indonesia

ome to the fascinating and formidable Komodo dragon, Komodo National Park is a nature enthusiast’s nirvana. Aside from laying eyes on the illustrious lizard.

Visitors to this cerulean silhouetted archipelago in Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands can hike to hallowed viewpoints on Padar, sample laid-back beachside living on Kanawa and dive with a mind-boggling array of marine life in the reefs off Komodo.

New flight connections and liveaboards to gateway Labuanbajo have made the park more accessible than ever, prompting local authorities to examine ways to protect the Komodo species.

Visitor caps and park fee rises are likely in 2018, but travellers should play their part by joining small, responsible boat trips to avoid overwhelming the park's guides and resources.


Tourism Observer

ZANZIBAR: Nungwi Beach In Zanzibar A Place Worth Visiting

Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar, is simply a perfect, uncrowded exotic place, especially during the low season and before the water is swallowed, exposing the pricky starfish, crabs and sea anemone that may make it hard to walk along the beach.

Watching the boat sail towards the Tortoise Sanctuary, Dolphin and Pemba Islands which are far off is almost therapeutic.

Immersed in the tranquillity and the silence, save for the sound of the sea, two white women, ask me politely if people can wear swimming costumes in Zanzibar.

We would love to swim, but there seems to be nobody wearing a swimming costume around or even dressed up revealingly along any street, one of the tourist said.

Zanzibar is laid-back and conservative, but together with the tourists, we agree that we could feign ignorance, change into swimming costumes and jump into the ocean to cool off.

Most women in the archipelago cover up and to many tourists who are not couples on honeymoon, the town is a lonely planet.
In some hotels, nightlife centres around sundowner beach parties.

But if looking for places to unwind in the archipelago, Nungwi has perfect spots where you can watch live concerts and dance under the stars with crashing waves in the background.

As I wandered through the streets, I saw a poster of a concert at a nearby club. Curious of how a night out in a club in a conservative town would be like, I decided to go.

Inside the nightclub, the dressing was nothing close to what I had seen on the streets. The women in the Zanzibar club resembled those in any upmarket Nairobi joint; skimpily dressed.

Rhumba music echoed through the club. Then Marijan Rajab, a Tanzania maestro with Dar es Salaam International Band walked onto the stage, introducing the revellers to Zanzibari rhythms.

His song, ‘Siwema,’ which praises the beautiful women of Zanzibar, drew many to the floor as they gyrated slowly.

At 10p.m, together with a few friends, we walked to another club to find Kenyan music playing. Sauti Sol, Kidum Kibido, Jaguar, Nameless, Amos and Josh are household names there.

Their songs rent the air and the Swahili natives of Tanzania’s island sang along while dancing gracefully.

At midnight, we walked back to the hotel just adjacent to the beach. The town is quite secure and well-lit.

The next day, I took a ferry to Dar es Salaam. The return trip was bumpier and nauseating, unlike the smooth sail to the island two days earlier.

I slept on the deck alongside other women for most of the two and a half hour journey.

Zanzibar memories still linger as I remember the taste of the sumptuous Swahili delicacies.

I particularly loved the chips mayai— a meal that is not visually appealing but tastes amazing. French Fries are put in a pan and a raw egg beaten to it, making a pizza-like meal.

It is served alongside vegetable salad, pepper, mayonnaise and a juice.

And how will I ever forget the marashi ya karafuu, a nice smelling spice drawn from the seeds of a palm tree that grows on the coastline.

While at Nungwi Beach, you can visit the turtle centre, a quiet place during the low season where you can enjoy a cold drink before heading back to your hotel.

SLOVENIA: "kurentovanje" Among Greatest Shows On Earth, Says Lonely Planet

The most distinctive part of the kurent costume is the mask made of textile, leather, and a long red tongue

The Ptuj-based carnival, named after its distinctive hairy figure, the kurent, took seventh place among 101 greatest shows in the world by the leading tourist guide book publisher Lonely Planet.

The kurent is, according to the carnival's main website, one of the most popular and recognised costumes of Slovenian tradition. Its origin is still uncertain, but it is said to come from the pagan god of hedonism Kurent, who chased away the winter and brought spring to the country.

The most distinctive part of the kurent costume is the mask made of textile, leather, and a long red tongue. The kurent is dressed in sheep, rabbit or goat fur.

It also wears a chain, holding five cow bells, which, according to tradition, chase away the winter. The kurent holds a thick staff upholstered with hedgehog skin, called the "ježevka".

The Ptuj carnival is visited by 100,000 people each year. This year, it will take place between 2 and 9 February.

On its scale of 101 greatest shows on Earth, Lonely Planet placed the Brazilian carnival in first place, where more than two million people dance the samba through the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

Second place was taken by the New Orleans carnival in the US, while the Venetian carnival, known for its distinctive masks, took third place.

SOUTH AFRICA: SA Dominates Top 10 Best Safari Parks

In a study of more than 3,000 reviews from safari adventurists and industry experts, four South African parks were declared amongst the top 10 best safari parks of Africa.

SafariBookings.com, an online marketplace for African safaris, published a definitive ranking of the best safari parks in Africa. South Africa’s MalaMala, Sabi Sands, Phinda, and Kgalagadi all ranked within the Top 10. No other country had more parks ranked so highly, which is excellent for South Africa.

A total of 2,234 reviews were contributed by safari tourists from 63 countries. The remaining 774 park reviews were written by renowned experts, including guidebook authors associated with Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer’s, Bradt and Footprint.

The study found MalaMala Game Reserve ranked second of all African parks, with an average rating of 4.81 out of 5, while the famous Kruger National Park was ranked 20th. This came as a surprise to the Safaribookings team as Kruger is South Africa's most popular park.

It has less wilderness appeal because it's fenced, has a network of tarred roads, large scale accommodations and can get crowded with self-drive visitors, but the abundance and variety of wildlife should make up for that.

When examining why the four best South African parks hold such high positions, it’s apparent each have their own special features. MalaMala, Sabi Sands and Phinda are top-grade private game reserves offering luxury accommodation and almost guaranteed sightings of the Big Five, in addition to other wildlife.

MalaMala and Sabi Sands share an unfenced border with Kruger National Park and thus both have access to this enormous ecosystem. Kgalagadi is one of the most rewarding parks for adventurous self-drives, as it is off-the-beaten-track, has a real wilderness vibe and great wildlife viewing.