Tuk Tuk hits the spotlight again
Jonny Ward, one of the top 10 bloggers in the world and a well known globe trotter who had travelled to 197 countries in, is currently in Sri Lanka to participate in the “Lanka Challenge 2017: The Tuk Tuk Rally”.
This is organised by the Large Minority Travel Group in partnership with Connaissance de Ceylan, the Sri Lanka Ministry of Tourism and SriLankan Airlines and being held at the Tamarind Tree at Minuwangoda from April 20-29. The Tuk TuK Rally was flagged off on April 21 at 7.30 at Minuwangoda.
Julian Carnell, Organizer and Co-Founder, Large Minority Group addressing a media at Monara Restaurant at the Ceylon Hotel School at Kollupitiya recently said the first phase of the Tuk Tuk adventure rally will begin when 15 three wheelers will be used to take on a tour of 45 Australian, American, Danish, UAE, New Zealand, South African, British, Dutch and French tourists to Jaffna, Trincomalee, Kandy, Sigiriya and back to Negombo, covering a distance of 1000 km.
“We intend to donate 10 per cent of our registration fee to the Red Cross Society of Sri Lanka and to Land Owners Restore Rain forest (Lorris) organization in Sri Lanka and that’s one reason why tourists come to Sri Lanka.”
He said the nature of the tour is quite different from any other form of travel in the country where tourists can interact with people and sample their food and to have a rapport with them to learn about their culture and habits. “Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors that bring in high yields to companies offering such products. Many tourists who have been to Sri Lanka before have come back again this time to experience adventure tourism. Adventure tourism also resonates with people who have a passion for such travel.”
He said the uniqueness of the Tuk Tuk rally is not to travel fast but to go on a sightseeing tour at a slower pace and will also have the support of the Ministry of Health. Large Minority Group also operates in Philippines, Colombia and in Cambodia organizing such tours.
Mr. Ward said that by blogging he has developed contacts with six million people each year. “Although I have been to Sri Lanka before I have never done something crazy like this before.” Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board, Paddy Withana said the important aspect of the Tuk Tuk Rally is for the tourists to experience the diverse culture and culinary habits of Sri Lankans. He said it was safe for tourists to visit any part of the country today.