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Sri Lanka is Lonely Planet’s No.1 travel destination for 2019 – here’s why its the perfect holiday spot.

Since 2009, following the end of its decades-long civil war, the popularity of Sri Lanka as a tourist hot spot has been rising rapidly escape.com.au reports, with the island nation named as Lonely Planet’s No.1 travel destination for 2019.

Defying All The Odds

If the idyllic beaches, pristine countryside and affordability are not enough to convince you, the friendliness of Sri Lanka’s locals is second to none. New direct flights, along with a surge in hotels and tours, have encouraged Aussie tourists to swap destinations like Bali and Fiji in favour of Sri Lankan hospitality.

“Already notable to intrepid travellers for its mix of religions and cultures, its timeless temples, its rich and accessible wildlife, its growing surf scene and its people who defy all odds by their welcome and friendliness after decades of civil conflict, this is a country revived,” Lonely Planet said in their 2019 guide. “There’s now more than ever for families, adrenaline junkies, eco-tourists, wellness seekers and foodies of all budgets.”

We’re already looking up flights on SkyScanner.

Exploring More Remote Areas

Fear not – Indonesia still makes the grade as the seventh best travel destination for 2019, however, the guide encourages tourists to travel to more remote areas, such as Sumatra and Komodo, in order to truly experience all that the country has to offer.

But what about the rest of the list? The top ten countries might surprise you:

1. Sri Lanka

2. Germany

3. Zimbabwe

4. Panama

5. Kyrgyzstan

6. Jordan

7. Indonesia

8. Belarus

9. Sao Tome and Principe

10. Belize

All this travel talk has got us looking up how many annual leave days we have left and wondering who can look after the dog for a couple of weeks! With December to March the best time to visit, we could use a nice break after Christmas to relax, unwind and explore all that Sri Lanka has to offer.

Which of Lonely Planet’s top ten holiday destinations would you like to visit? Tell us in the comments below.

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  • My eldest went to Sri Lanka about 10 years ago and only lasted a few days. She said she felt unsafe.

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  • Bali is so different now. Would love to visit Sri Lanka for something different

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  • That’s a different list of places to visit. Not sure any would be on my bucket list!

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  • It is ridiculous that it is much more expensive to travel to some overseas countries than it is within Australia. I know a business owner in Adelaide who had to go to a conference in Darwin. It was cheaper for him to fly to Bali, stay overnight and fly to Darwin the next morning….and the reverse going home. plus he paid an employee manager’s wages for the days he was away.

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  • None of them interest me however that photo above is glorious.

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  • Sri Lanka is definitely on my bucket list after following (via FB) a friend’s awesome holiday experiences over there.

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  • At how many of these places is there a risk of catching a disease that you may never have been vaccinated against as it is never common in Aust??

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  • I have a friend who is from Sri Lanka. They go back every year mostly to visit family. She was telling me there are many beautiful places there, that she hasn’t even seen yet. They intend to show their girls some of them (and themselves) this year.

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  • Overseas travel is out of my reach but these pictures look incredible!

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  • They all would be amazing, but I have heard Germany has some amazing food, so would like to try there.

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  • I need to organise our boys passports – would love an overseas family vacation.

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  • Think I’d much prefer to laze on our sun soaked beaches than go to some of these places.

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  • I’m not sure about this list.. not many of them seem like desirable destinations to me.

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  • Really? I didn’t think Sri Lanka was safe and Zimbabwe? Definitely not for young children I thought

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  • Ooo, I’ve seen Sri Lanka on a lot of travel deals lately… will have to go.

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