A delegation of Indian journalists, bloggers, and influencers recently traveled to Sri Lanka to forge new ties and demonstrate their support as good neighbors. The goal was to assist Sri Lanka maintain its position as one of the world's top tourist destinations.
The majority of visitors arriving in Sri Lanka this year were originally from India, demonstrating their eagerness and interest in learning more about the shared cultural and natural history of the two nations, as well as the various travel choices.
A Media team of 17 journalists, bloggers, and influencers later took part in this journey on behalf of well-known media outlets including "The Hindu," "The Times of India," and White Hat Media (Pvt) Ltd. National Geography Traveler, the Tamil Navigation YouTube channel, the Malayali Yathtrakal Instagram account, dark angel, Surbhi, a travel and lifestyle writer, the Explore with EcoCats website, among others The media team was split into three divisions to cover adventure, the southern coast, and heritage. For the first time, a media delegation was required to cover various aspects of a trip separately and to further tourist promotion.
They traveled to locations like Ridi Viharaya, Minneriya, Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, Pollonnaruwa, Spice Gardens, Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Temple of Tooth Relic, Cultural Dance Performances, Giragama Tea Factory, Embekke Devalaya in Kandy, and Negombo beaches to gather information about heritage. They were astounded by the wonder and magnificence it offered as well as by the rich legacy that had been kept alive for so long.
The team that covered Sri Lanka's southern region also got the chance to cover Mirissa, Yala National Park, Hambantota, and Galle. Additionally, they got the chance to participate in activities like going to the Lunugaga estate, Dutch Fort-Galle, the Kanneliya Rainforest, and whale watching at Mirissa. Given that it was the country residence of renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, the Lunugaga estate held a particular place. The media team stopped by the Kande Vihara en way, where one of the biggest Buddha statues in the world, measuring 160 feet tall, is thought to be located. The opportunity to see whales and dolphins at Mirissa was another draw.There they may see dolphins and whales of different species doing tricks in the warm Indian Ocean.
The third party embarked on an adventure path, visiting places like Kandy, the Horton Plains, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Bentota, etc. They went to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and the Hantana Mountain range, which is a well-liked destination for outdoor enthusiasts interested in hiking, camping, bird watching, and enjoying the outdoors, and from which the highest peak offers a breathtaking view of Kandy. Each of these particular places provided the Media Group with more than enough content to distribute through each of their separate Media companies.They left early in the morning for Horton Plains, the only national park in Sri Lanka's Hill Country, the island nation's highest and most remote plateau, which is located in the Nuwara Eliya region and has a height of more than 2000 meters. Following an evening stroll in Nuwara Eliya City, they took the train to Ella before arriving at Bentota, where the tour came to an end.
The Indian media team therefore had a special experience seeing Sri Lanka's distinctive variety, its famed culture, and the numerous vacation alternatives it has to offer. Given that Sri Lanka and India share many historical and cultural elements, customs, and religious locations, this media FAM tour is seen as a unique chance to showcase Sri Lanka to Indian tourists and urge more Indian tourists to visit Sri Lanka. Additionally, it will be a chance to spread the good news that Sri Lanka is secure. India has outperformed all other nations in terms of visitor arrivals this year, demonstrating its support as a good neighbor once again.
