The Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka Initiative
Travel is in unprecedented territory.
When we first conceptualized the Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka initiative in 2018 and etched its online presence in mid 2019, we knew it would be a challenge to win over many minds to our concept of low foot-fall tourism. A travel concept, that pays greater respect to diversity-rich human landscapes across our island by minimizing tourism footfall, and a shift towards purpose-driven travel that makes a lasting impact on people and their livelihoods. And then the pandemic happened. More voices joined in to lend credence to the less-is-more kind of approach adopted by Ayu in the Wild since 2012.
The world started appreciating things, not appreciated before. And asking questions that will frame their future decisions.
“What if 2020 isn’t cancelled?
What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw — that it finally forces us to grow.
A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber.
A year we finally accept the need for change.
Declare change. Work for change. Become the change. A year we finally band together, instead of
pushing each other further apart.
2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather
the most important year of them all.”
- Leslie Dwight
Although these words were published during this tumultuous first week of June 2020 where the Covid-19 pandemic was not the only crisis in focus - we thought it was apt for the change that Ayu in the Wild has long wanted for tourism in Sri Lanka. The change for a sense of purpose. For a more humane look at how travel, driven by profits must change. The time is now.
Our Vision for The Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka Initiative
Ayu in the Wild has been committed to conscious travel since 2012 curating emotionally and intellectually engaging experiences in the farthest corners of Sri Lanka. We have seen travelers enthralled by holidays which have a sense of purpose and offer a deeper awareness of a unique culture in a distant land. Where guests leave the island fulfilled that they are supporting a local travel business committed to give back.
Over the next few months we will engage, listen, advocate and innovate - with forward-thinkers on sustainability, with conscious travel movements, conservationists, philanthropists and journalists. We hope that by creating awareness on low footfall travel we can advocate for a more sustainable future for an island that offers huge swathes of nature and a deep rooted heritage. We will continue to raise our voice for a change in Sri Lanka tourism to create a better visitor experience, protect nature, strengthen livelihoods, increase food security and ensure a better life for locals. Destinations that are deep in culture and nature need to handle visitor numbers more judiciously than those which are richer in synthetic experiences. Sri Lanka is a case in point.
Ayu in the Wild’s purpose-driven holidays will continue to be bespoke and curated. We will innovate to keep our footprint light and our community ties strong and we will remain independent in our recommendations of the best hotels for each holiday to Sri Lanka.
Ayu in the Wild Holidays are specialists in curating sustainable slow travel holidays to Sri Lanka using the knowledge of the widely traveled Sri Lanka owners.