Posted 30 Apr 2009

Sri Lanka is set to welcome increasing numbers of holidaymakers this year – and could be the perfect location for a volunteering abroad trip.

According to the country’s Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka will be a burgeoning holiday hotspot for holidaymakers, volunteering abroad and gap year travellers looking for somewhere interesting, purse-friendly and idyllic this year.

Ms Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori, Middle East director of the bureau, stated that the country’s unspoiled landscapes, fascinating nature and stunning beaches are set to be discovered by this summer’s travellers.

"Things are looking up for Sri Lanka," she explained. "The country is on the threshold of long-lasting peace."

As well as being a hot volunteering abroad and gap year destination, Sri Lanka will also entice Asian holidaymakers as it is right on their doorstep.

"The global economic recession is likely to have a significant impact on where Arabs and expatriates alike choose to spend their vacation time this summer," the representative stated.

This news comes despite recent unrest in Sri Lanka, which authorities are attempting to resolve. English and French foreign secretaries David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner are currently in the country to help broker peace deals.

Category: Asia