By David Hopps

This is now officially boom time in Sri Lanka. Even the good ol' New York Times has granted its approval. Travellers from the United States are not known as the most adventurous in the world -- in recent years with good reason you might say -- but the New York Times has named Sri Lanka as the no 1 destination in the world for 2010.

As Red Dot's growing sample of travellers includes about 0.000001 customers from the United States, we are pretty impressed with this new insight. Bring it on! We are ready to serve.

I admit I am as sceptical as I hope some others will be about Lists. Travel supplements are full of them these days. Ten or more years ago, you could read Paul Thereoux on a journey through the Pacific. Wonderful stuiff, even if you did sense that he made some of it up. Now you get a List: 20 Great Walks, 20 Hot B&Bs, 20 Best Beach Shacks, 20 ways to Avoid Writing Something Meaningful. 

The New York Times does not stop at 20, it does 31. But, hey, Sri Lanka is no 1. So it should be. Good on the New York Times. Bring it on.

(The New York Times, incidentally, is one of the world's great newspapers. I mention this for those who do not read newspapers anymore and believe that quite enough news can be gathered free of charge from the Internet. You will not be saying that in ten years if paid-for news collapses and it begins to dawn on you that you are being fed pap).

But I digress. More on The List. Mysore, which is also covered in Red Dot's burgeoning South India programme ( South India ) is at no 4, tucked in behind, ehm, the Patagonia Wine Country and Seoul. Red Dot has researched neither so can make no comment on tbeir hipness for 2010.

Other interesting candidates? Copenhagen at 5 - well, I suppose it deserves a consolation prize after the dismal climate summit. Antarctica is at 9, though still rumoured to be a little bit short of boutique hotels. Las Vegas is rated as the 17th best place to travel to in 2010, so if that is true even if I win the lottery I suppose I can only take 16 holidays.
Incidentally, thanks to that most assiduous reader, Karl Steinberg at the Galle Fort Hotel ( their website or, even better Galle Fort Hotel ) for altering us to this.

You can read the full New York Times list of the 31 Places Top Go in 2010 at Click Here. I don't hink it is compulsory to do all 31. We recommend that you start at no 1 and then reconsider your strategy.

The UK Pro Surf Tour will return to Arugam Bay in July for the ‘Sri Lanka Champion of Champions Surf Contest’ -- further proof that this escapist east-coast settlement is now fighting back after several tough years caused by the devastating effects of the tsunami and the civil unrest in the country as the Sri Lankan government completed its defeat of Tamil militants.

Arugam Bay is a surfer's paradise, highly prized for its unspoilt beauty as well as its ‘point breaks’ which rank among the best in the world. The hardiest of surfers have returned to the Bay regularly, even during the troubled times, and now their faith will finally be rewarded as others follow.

The 2009 Championships will run from July 1 to 6 and have attracted 48 surfers, including some of the UK's leading surfers. the last time the championships were held was in 2005 when they played a vital part in assisting and encouraging people in the region after the loss of life and damage caused by the 2004 tsunami.

Red Dot is committed to assisting with the regeneration of the East coast and will offer 5 per cent discounts to anybody travelling to Arugam Bay until the end of 2009. Just mention that you have read this blog to claim your discount.

The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) is the first organization established outside of Sri Lanka with the sole purpose to conserve the dwindling biodiversity of Sri Lanka. After researching Human Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka, the SLWCS initiated its’ first project in 1997 with the community-based initiative, Saving Elephants by Helping People (SEHP). The SLWCS began exploring ways to resolve the increasing threats associated with human-elephant conflict and its relationship with poverty. Wildlife conservation is not a stand-alone enterprise, but one best tackled simultaneously with community participation in order to ensure long-term success and viability of protecting wildlife.

In the last decade the SLWCS has grown in scope, increasing project aims to include both economic and community development and expanded its reach, developing new projects around the country. Yet, the SEHP approach has become the trademark of SLWCS’ operational style. An innovative, multi-faceted approach with a strong scientific base integrated with economic incentives is necessary for success.

Experiences over the last decade have led the SLWCS to work towards a new model of sustainable conservation, one in which all stakeholders are involved in the decision making processes and ultimately share the benefits from the work done. Presently, our efforts include