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MONTHLY NEWS BULLETIN - JANUARY 2021

january 2021 - Newsletter - Experiential Journeys Sri Lanka

 

Hello there! 

I sincerely wish you, your family and colleagues a less challenging, steady and happy 2021. 

Let’s start the year with some good news - Sri Lanka is opening its doors to the world! The Ministry of Tourism has announced that after a closure of over 10 months, our airports will be open for travellers from 23rd January 2021. Global safety and hygiene protocols have been implemented in the country thanks to the Operational Guidelines of Preparedness and Response for COVID-19 Outbreak which was compiled by The Sri Lanka Tourism Board. This has enabled a COVID-19 Safety Certificate to be introduced to the service providers in the tourism industry.

A pilot project designed to restart tourism in the country was recently put into action and select groups of travellers started arriving at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport from 28th December onwards. So far, around 660 travellers in total have arrived in the country as a result of this project. After undergoing a mandatory quarantine period of 7 days in designated hotels, the travellers will be taken on excursions & activities which will be carried out within a “travel bubble” to minimise contact with local communities.

Finally, we are also proud to announce that Sri Lanka has recently been awarded the Safe Travel Stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council, which further strengthens our promise for your safe stay in Sri Lanka.

In addition to the positive news above, we are also happy to introduce you to an amazing perch up in the hills, a “Ratty” conservationist, a traditional dessert experience, our successful efforts in producing sustainable energy and an exciting collaboration with our closest international neighbour. 

With that said, we can’t wait to host your guests in Sri Lanka very soon!

See you soon,

Anuruddha Bandara (AB)
Founder,
Experiential Journeys

 



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Frequently Asked Questions

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Our policy in discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

Animals Are Friends Too: Discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

We at ExJ stay away from tourism experiences that are staged and involve animal cruelty and shopping traps that are contrived to exploit and deceive clients.

Even though some of the popular ‘attractions’ are not included in our programmes due to the above reasons, we have no objections in our clients making their own arrangements with our Drivers to visit these places.

 

Why we do not promote following attractions

 

Turtle Hatcheries

As this concept has serious negative aspects in terms of conservation, we do not encourage our visitors to patronize the turtle hatcheries, as not all of them are really turtle-friendly. We instead encourage them to observe turtles in their natural habitats.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

When we became aware that the animal welfare standards there were questionable, we stopped encouraging our clients to visit the orphanage. We are pleased to observe that the Born Free Foundation has now adopted similar measures.

Elephant back rides – Habarana

There’s uncertainty surrounding the attitude of this place towards animal welfare. There may be a few ethical operators, but in general, we are not in agreement with how the place is run. We all would love a photo of us riding an elephant, but is a lifetime of pain caused to these magnificent mammals really worth a few fleeting likes on social media?

Traditional Village Tour with a Canoe Trip and Bullock-Carts – Habarana

This is a tourist trap where a lot of the trip is ‘staged’ for commercial purposes. Such fake touristic experiences will not give our visitors an idea of what life in the country is really like, so join us as we show you the real side of Sri Lanka. And at the end of every vacation, always ask yourself, “Did you feel that your holiday was ethical, eco-friendly, and reduced environmental impacts?”

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