Review of Sri Lanka Tourism from an Indian Family’s Perspective
As a family of Indian travelers, our experience with Sri Lanka tourism was quite underwhelming, primarily due to the apparent lack of inclusivity toward Indian tourists. While the country appears to cater predominantly to the US and European crowd, Indian families often face unfavorable treatment. For instance, the best restaurant seats seemed perpetually "reserved" for others, service was delayed when it came to our orders, and the staff came across as unwelcoming and even rude at times.
Sri Lanka is also extremely expensive for Indian travelers, especially when compared to Goa. Goa offers not only better value for money but also superior food and a more vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. Finding basic Indian food in Sri Lanka’s good restaurants was a real challenge, making it particularly tough for kids.
Speaking of kids, we strongly advise against taking children under 14 for whale watching. The experience is almost guaranteed to cause severe nausea, and the brief glimpse of a whale for a few seconds is not worth the ordeal.
As a fellow Indian, I would wholeheartedly recommend Goa over Sri Lanka for its affordability, amazing food, and genuinely warm hospitality. Sri Lanka, unfortunately, did not meet our expectations.