Lonely Planet: controversial ‘best in travel’ for 2019

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In addition, the Foreign Office warns of “an increase in sexual attacks against females in tourist area” on the Indian Ocean island, and says: “Western women continue to report incidents of verbal and physical harassment by groups of men.” Lonely Planet’s destination editor, Joe Bindloss, said: “While there have been incidents of communal violence that have caught the headlines, Sri Lanka is safer for travellers – and for locals – than it has been for many years. “Tourism has an important role to play in helping Sri Lanka build for a peaceful future.” Second place is taken by Germany, while the country ranked third in the world is another controversial selection, Zimbabwe. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Lonely Planet has also selected 10 “Best Value” destinations, a list headed by the southern Nile Valley in Egypt. Lonely Planet include the archipelago because of “a surge in independent travel, triggered by the proliferation of inexpensive local guesthouses on islands that were previously closed off to visitors”.