Author: Pallavi Pundir
There’s often a misconception that people with a disability don’t travel, and yet, global statistics show that disabled travellers represent a $35 billion market (as of 2015), which jumped by 63 percent by 2020. The world’s differently-abled are estimated to be 16 percent of the world’s population – amounting to 1.3 billion people. However, one rarely sees tourism or the travel industry catering to this vast population. The United Nations mandates that accessibility for all is fundamental to our human rights. In fact, what many miss out on is that accessibility is key to tourism and is central to sustainable travel policies. The United Nations Tourism, a UN organisation with 160 member states, found tremendous business opportunities in disability-friendly travel, by estimating that travellers with disabilities almost always travel accompanied by 2 to 3 companions. Additionally, two out of three people with disabilities in developed economies are likely to have the means to travel, the study further stated.
Sri Lanka is a signatory to the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which ensures that the country intersperses its services and institutional development with accessibility. In fact, the country is moving towards amending its 28-year-old laws related to persons with disabilities to adjust it to modern-day challenges and align it with the island’s future needs for more inclusive tourism.
In the meantime, what do you do if you’re planning a trip to one of South Asia’s tourism hotspots?
In this island nation, tourism is one of the key industries that support the economic backbone of the country. And in it, accessibility is a significant feature of its landscape and infrastructure. One needn’t limit their imagination of travel to able-bodied adventurers here. Be it the stunning beaches or hill districts of Sri Lanka, to enjoying its architectural marvels or institutions, a holiday in Sri Lanka can reveal many hidden gems, irrespective of your ability to travel. If you seek more information on how you can have that perfect, accessible holiday for yourself or your loved ones, read this enlightening guide to help you travel smartly and with ease.
Is Sri Lanka Accessible to Differently-Abled Travellers?
Facing barriers in life is a rite of passage, but this should not be so if you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka. Across the country, hotels and resorts have implemented wheelchair-friendly pathways and infrastructure such as slopes, ramps and lifts to make the tourists feel welcome. Some ancient sites have been made accessible too, while others have been left untouched to preserve their natural state as much as possible. A lot needs to be done to make adventure travel more inclusive, but the challenges are offset by the country’s extremely hospitable and welcoming demeanour towards tourists of all kinds. Additionally, travellers can opt for assistance while visiting attractions that have not yet developed accessible infrastructure.
Things to Keep in Mind as a Traveller with Disabilities
As a traveller with a disability, it’s natural to have inhibitions and apprehensions about what to expect. However, in Sri Lanka, let those expectations be limited to encountering new cultures, flavours and people. First things first: It always helps to prepare in advance to manage your time and cover as much of the country as possible with the resources that are made available to you. In terms of clothing, keep cotton or light clothes because of Sri Lanka’s coastal weather. It helps if you can call your hotel in advance to ensure all checks out when it comes to your mobility within the premises of the property. Advance booking of your vehicle, alongside a guide, would help you tremendously with any last-minute hitches. Most public transport in Sri Lanka isn’t accessible but booking a private vehicle with a ramp will make it easy for you to adjust to your upcoming bumpy rides! Lastly, good travel is all about timing. Sri Lanka sees heavy rainfall throughout the year, which will hamper movements and access to a lot of sites. It helps if you book any time between January and April to encounter friendly weather.
Tips to Book Your Accessibility-Friendly Tour
There’s a plethora of scenic options to choose from.
- The Yala National Park: You can book a vehicle equipped with wheelchair accessibility to enjoy the scenic views of the Yala national park.
- The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage: This is an incredible opportunity to relish the sight of the mighty Asian elephants being cared for by their keepers. Pinnawala has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: This site is in Kandy and it houses a Buddhist temple that holds the relic of the Buddha’s tooth. Legend says that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. This, among many other reasons, makes this a World Heritage Site.
- The Dutch Fort in Galle: This is a 17th-century fortification built by Dutch colonisers, which showcases the Sri Lankan government’s incredible conservation and reconstruction efforts to house the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. This, too, is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has survived the brutal 2004 tsunami, which had then destroyed parts of the Galle town’s coastal areas. The Galle Dutch Fort is easily accessible for wheelchair users, and has wheelchair-friendly entrances and parking too.
- The Royal Botanic Gardens. Also in Kandy, the gardens where you can enjoy the beautiful highland town of Nuwara Eliya. The garden has manicured walkways, shaded avenues and plenty of space to enable ease of exploration for wheelchair users.
- At the end of the day, when you’re ready to kick back and relax, you can drop by at any of the several disability-friendly restaurants to relish local cuisine.
How Can I Take Care of My Differently-Abled Friend During the Trip?
- Plan the trip well in advance in order to understand the specific needs and preferences of your friend. This would include medical considerations, accessibility in the location you’re travelling and arranging any mobility aid for the trip.
- Choose your mode of travel wisely. In most Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, most modes of travel, such as railways or buses, do not come with accessibility-friendly infrastructure. In that case, opting for a personalised or private mode of travel would be advisable. Air travel, at the same time, is the best way to not just avail mobility services, but also save time and effort for everyone involved.
- When you’re packing, make sure you look at aspects such as medication, insurance and doctor’s contact to make sure you have everything that you may not find in the country you’re travelling to. Carry extras in terms of medicines or mobility aid in case of emergencies.
- During the trip, it’s important to keep communicating with your friend to assess their comfort and mobility. However, it’s also essential to allow your friend the ease and independence to go around on their own. Your assistance is most important in public spaces, where you can always ask around for additional support for your friend.
- One cardinal rule of any trip, including this one, is flexibility. Always expect delays, unexpected cancellations and redirection. Being open to changes will help you navigate your travel with a lot more adventure and fun too.
- Lastly, at the end of the trip, there’s nothing better than to reflect and share your experiences with each other, and even beyond!
What Can I Do Beyond Site-Seeing in Sri Lanka?
Needless to say, just because you’re differently abled doesn’t mean your activities are restricted. Apart from enjoying peace and calm at Sri Lanka’s many wondrous beaches, or relishing its textured flavours in restaurants, here’s a list of things you can do:
- Join cooking classes to learn how to make local cuisine
- Join a pottery studio to channel your inner creativity.
- If you’re a lover of culture, find your closest workshop on Batik, a famous regional print, to create your own design. You can even take it home as a souvenir.
- If you’re somewhere in Nuwara Eliya, you can even visit a tea factory and take home the country’s world-famous tea packs!
FAQ
Sri Lanka has many accessible options in terms of accommodation and tours. However, it helps to pre-book your domestic travel with a reliable travel agency to ensure they offer mobility-enhancing services such as ramps.
It’s usually advisable to choose a trusted transport service. Most public transport don’t have ramps and slopes. While it is advisable to book a private car, you can also opt for a tuktuk as a fun alternative along with a friend who can drive around Sri Lanka.
