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Bombs to buzzing beaches: Sri Lanka sees tourism surge after long crisis

Hotel attacks, COVID-19 and an unmatched economic crisis devastated Sri Lanka’s feted tourism. Now, visitors are returning amid a promotion campaign. But industry insiders say more is needed.

Colombo, Sri Lanka –  Devmith Kaggodarachchi’s beachfront hotel in the southwestern coastal town of Hikkaduwa, a tourist hotspot 136km (85 miles) from the capital Colombo, is nearing full capacity.

The three-star hotel, with air-conditioned rooms and private balconies looking into the Indian Ocean, is busy serving tourists visiting for the Christmas season.

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That is not how it’s been for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry over the past four years. Tourist arrivals dropped drastically in 2019 after bombings in three luxury hotels and three churches on Easter killed more than 250 people. The COVID-19 pandemic hit before Sri Lanka had a chance to recover.

The country’s economic and political turmoil in 2022 – when its then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family had to flee, and essential commodities like fuel became almost impossible for everyday people to secure – further pushed tourists away from Sri Lanka.

But a concerted promotional drive to attract foreign visitors, aided by geopolitical tensions unrelated to the country, appears to finally be bearing fruit, offering the nation an engine of revenue that could play a pivotal role in helping Sri Lanka’s economy recover.

In 2023, Sri Lanka recorded more than 1.3 million tourist arrivals by the second week of December, official data show. It is the first time arrivals have crossed the 1 million mark in four years. More than 150,000 tourists visited in November, the highest monthly tally since March 2020.

“Tourists are trusting us now. After going back to their country, they talk good about us. Business is good at the moment,” Kaggodarachchi told Al Jazeera. “Our hotel can serve about 150 tourists at a time. At the moment,  there are 130”.

Most tourists who have visited this year are from India, which hosted three roadshows promoting Sri Lanka’s tourism sector in April.

But the Russian war in Ukraine has helped Sri Lanka too. Russia is the second-highest source of tourists to the country this year, at a time Russian tourists are not welcome in many other nations.

“There were limitations on countries Russians could visit. They could visit Sri Lanka. We had that advantage,” Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando told Al Jazeera.

Encouraging numbers, but higher revenue needed

Industry stakeholders say that while higher tourist arrivals are a positive sign, there is a need to attract high-spending tourists to generate more revenue for the economy.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has also urged the tourism sector to improve its products and services to cater to high-end tourists.

From January to November, tourism contributed $1.8bn in revenue – an increase of 78 percent compared with the same period last year. Tourism is Sri Lanka’s third-largest source of foreign exchange. On average, a tourist spends $181 daily, according to government data.

Suranga Silva, a professor in tourism economics at the University of Colombo, suggested that Sri Lanka could use its uninhabited islands to boost high-end tourism by offering exclusivity.

“If we can develop our islands as high-end tourist destinations, we can get tourists to spend more than $1000 daily. The service must be worth what they pay,” Silva told Al Jazeera.

Research published in 2018 identified at least 87 islands in Sri Lankan territory. Many are neglected and can be used to develop tourist resorts, bird sanctuaries and scenic attractions, the research found.

“Only luxury hotels aren’t enough. Tourists should be given a valuable tour package including domestic charter flights to take them to these locations,” Silva said.

In 2021, the World Economic Forum ranked Sri Lanka 74th among 117 countries on its Travel and Tourism Development Index, which measures factors and policies that enable the development of the travel and tourism sector.

“Right now, there is no advantage for any foreign investor to invest in Sri Lanka,” Fernando, the tourism authority chairperson, conceded. “These are the things we have to look at and come up with policies that will facilitate greater investment.”

“I feel it will be 2029 by the time we receive 5 million tourists, of which half at least spend $500 a day”.

‘Don’t kill the goose that lays golden eggs’

But even as Colombo promotes the country’s tourism internationally, many businesses in the sector fear that the government is at the same time weakening their ability to compete for global travellers.

From January 2024, the Sri Lankan government will lift an exemption on value-added tax (VAT), which it had extended to tourism operators in 2020.

“Our industry generates foreign exchange revenue quickly. So, our request is to exempt us from VAT,” Rohan Abeywickrama, the president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism, told Al Jazeera.

Sri Lanka’s parliament recently voted to increase VAT from 15 to 18 percent, adding to the concerns of the sector.

That is to meet tax collection targets agreed with the International Monetary Fund which is offering the government a $2.9bn bailout package to tide over the country’s worst economic crisis since independence.

Businesses catering to tourists are already paying a Tourism Development Levy, Income Tax and Turnover Tax.

“When all these taxes are imposed on us, our production costs go up. So we become an expensive tourist destination,” Abeywickrama, an industry veteran who is also on the government’s tourism advisory committee, said.

“Tourism is driven by the private sector and is important to generate revenue. So the government must protect us and encourage us to remain in business. They shouldn’t kill the goose that lays golden eggs”.

The tourism sector is also asking the government to provide relief on their mounting debt and the multiple electricity and water tariff hikes imposed since last year.

Tour operators and safari four-wheel drive drivers say they have to put up with old vehicles as the government banned vehicle imports in early 2020 to control dollar outflows.

“The vehicle fleet is over 15 to 20 years old, which is a challenge with more breakdowns and high cost of repairs,” Nishad Wijetunga, the president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), told Al Jazeera.

“Vehicle imports have not been allowed for the sector in spite of making requests and having discussions with the authorities”.

Brain drain

The mass migration of Sri Lankans to other countries in search of jobs has also hurt the tourism industry.

More than 280,000 Sri Lankans, including 78,000 skilled workers and nearly 16,900 professionals, have migrated this year, according to figures obtained by Al Jazeera from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.

Skilled workers make up less than 40 percent of the tourism sector, the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), the capacity-building arm of Sri Lanka Tourism, has said.

To create skilled staff and retain them, the institute is conducting training programmes that require participants to work in the local hospitality sector for a year to receive their certification.

“Since we are investing in the training, we are bringing in a payback component, which is they have to work in the country to receive the certification,” SLITHM Chairman Shirantha Peiris said last month.

‘Optimistic for 2024’

Still, a buoyant Sri Lankan tourism authority is targeting 2.3 million tourist arrivals and $4.6bn in revenue next year.

To achieve this, the country has launched its first global tourism marketing campaign in 16 years, under the tagline “You Will Come Back For More”.

“We have identified nine tourist markets in which our digital marketing campaigns will be strengthened next year. We will also be getting vloggers and influencers to visit our country and produce promotional content,” Fernando said.

In late October, the government announced it will issue free tourist visas to visitors from seven countries, including China, India and Russia. This initiative, launched as a pilot project, will run until March 31, 2024.

Many tourists are already convinced.

In Mount Lavinia, a suburb of Colombo, 29-year-old Spanish national Guillem Fox was strolling along the beach with his French partner Mathilde Flachot.

“We will be travelling around the country, visiting wildlife sanctuaries, the tea plantations and maybe try out surfing in the south,” Fox told Al Jazeera. The couple plan to stay for about a month. “From the moment we arrived, the people have been really helpful,” he said.

“That’s a really nice feeling.”

Sri Lanka approves free tourist visa for seven countries to boost tourism

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Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

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• Popular Travel blog ‘’My Adventure across the world ‘’ takes Sri Lanka to the centre stage
• LOT Polish Airlines makes its inaugural flight to Sri Lanka
• Costa Victoria makes her debut call at the port of Colombo
• Sri Lanka dazzles as Premier Partner at World Travel Market
• Sri Lanka Tourism Celebrates the Big Win by Santani at the World Travel Market UK
• A high profile delegation from Belgium arrives in Sri Lanka for a familiarization visit
• Sri Lanka shows its prestige at JATA Tourism Expo 2019
• Sri lanka promotes tourism at the international book fair in frankfurt
• The German Travel Association extends its support to Sri Lanka Tourism
• Italian Celebrity Chef to support Sri Lanka Tourism
• Sri Lanka strikes a promising high at Travel Fair in Italy
• Australian Travel Agents impressed with Sri Lanka Tourism
• Recognizing Jaffna: A Culinary Adventure by Popular YouTubers - Chopstick Travel
• Sri Lankan Holidays launch in Dubai
• Sri Lanka showcases sustainable tourism at MATTA Trade Fair 2019
• Sri Lanka shows its potential at the OTDYKH Leisure & Tourism fair
• Sri Lanka Tourism gains momentum at IFTM TOP RESA Travel Fair 2019 in Paris, France
• So Sri Lanka Pro 2019 kick starts on a triumphant note
• Sri Lanka Tourism Celebrates World Tourism Day with Foreign Guests at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)
• Tourism Promotions Bureau Starts Global TV advertising to boost tourism to Sri Lanka
• So Sri Lanka Pro 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau welcomes a delegation of high profile Indian journalists to Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Tourism gears up for the So Sri Lanka Pro 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau hosted the Board of Directors meeting of United Federations of Travel Agents Associat
• Ministers Initiative in Thailand pays Dividends
• Tourism Industry commends the lifting of the state emergency
• Visa Fee Exempted to 48 countries in order to bring more tourists to the country
• Sri Lanka gears up for the Global Bohra Convention 2019
• Australian Tour Operators Chairman meets the Tourism Minister
• International Culinary YouTubers Explore Colombo Cuisine
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau hosts networking session for travel bloggers
• Sri Lanka shines at the Shopping Mall Promotion in Malaysia
• Chinese journalists on FAM tour
• The West Asia Baseball Cup 2019
• Capitalizing on increased interest by Aussie tourists
• Thai expertise to expedite tourism recovery
• Sri Lanka launches major tourism drive in China
• Chinese delegation calls on SLTPB for a visit to extend support to boost Tourism
• Sri Lanka bags the award for the best performance at SITIF 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism shines in Vistula Boulevards in Warsaw, Poland
• Sri Lanka showcases its best at the Carnival of Cultures
• Sri Lanka Tourism launches special promotional campaign in India
• Sri Lanka Tourism; The Steady Road to Recovery
• Career tourism professional has been appointed as the Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau
• Thai Buddhist group, a beacon of blessings and hope
• Social Media influencers and journalists show renewed interest in Sri Lanka
• “Let us unite and work against global terrorism” - Sri Lanka Tourism addresses global media at ATM, Dubai
• Sri Lanka Tourism begins destination brand recovery process
• Sri Lanka tourism industry defiant after deadly attacks UAE welcomes Sri Lanka with open arms Sri Lanka sets its sight o
• The visa on arrival programme on hold in response to security concerns
• A statement from the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) CEO Senthil Gopinath on the recent events in
• Creating awareness on Sri Lanka about the current situation (Q & A)
• Statement from Sri Lanka Tourism (SLTDA and SLTPB)
• Sri Lanka captures the hearts of Italians with eye catching promotions at BIT Travel Fair
• About the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of CITES
• Sri Lanka tantalises taste-buds at Taste of Dubai
• Over 3000 tourists arrive onboard two cruise ships to Sri Lanka
• First Ever Tourism Campaign in South Africa
• “So Sri Lanka” branding promoted at IMM - Berlin
• Sri Lanka Tourism unveils new documentary at ITB
• ‘So Sri Lanka’ takes global media by storm
• Marketing Drive by Sri Lanka Tourism at Thai International Travel Fair 2019
• Sri Lanka dazzles in the heart of Bollywood Once again
• Global Instagram Titans join hands with Sri Lanka Tourism to get inspired by their global 22 million travel seeking foll
• Spanish travelers enthralled by So Sri Lanka experience at FITUR Travel Fair, Spain 2019
• MS Queen Mary passenger cruise arrival 2019
• “So Sri Lanka” won the Best Decorated International Pavilion at the 26th PTAA Travel and Tour Expo 2019 – Manila,
• Sri Lanka to take sports Tourism towards a new dimension
• OTOAI to host annual convention in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka, a must travel destination
• Sri Lanka shows its prestige at the CMT Germany
• Sri Lanka makes a successful participation at SATTE 2019
• Sri Lanka takes the Centre stage at Vakantiebeurs
• Three cruise liners ferry in over 7000 tourists to Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka reach new heights in world luxury travel trade at ILTM Travel Fair, Cannes, France 2018
• Sri Lanka steals the spotlight at historical city of Izmir
• Sri Lanka at Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens
• CEAV congress ends on successful note
• Sri Lanka shines at TT Warsaw
• British film location managers scout for scenic spots
• Situation Update
• Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations for 2019 revealed
• Sri Lanka attracts charter flights from Europe
• Sri Lanka Tourism Welcomes Barmy Army
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, launches Sri Lanka’s new destination brand “So Sri Lanka”
• Legendary Vagabrothers geared up to take Sri Lanka to the world
• Sri Lanka shines at JATA Tourism Expo 2018 in Japan
• Enchanting Lanka Presented to French Media at Cercle de l'Union Interalliee Paris France
• Sri Lanka Tourism gains momentum at 40th Anniversary Edition of IFTM TOP RESA Travel Fair 2018 in Paris France
• Film Fare selects Sri Lanka to do the cover shoot of its November issue
• Sri Lanka Strengthens ties with the Russian Counterparts
• Sri Lanka Tourism makes inroads into Scandinavia
• Sri Lanka recognized as Asia’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination
• Roadshow Germany 2018
• Leisure and golf, a new tourism trend
• SLTPB scales up tourist arrivals with roadshows
• Discovering Sri Lanka’s lesser known attractions through the eyes of social media influencers
• Sri Lanka beckons Indian travellers to its Ramayana Yathra
• Sri Lanka Tourism bags the best performance award at KOFTA 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism woos tourists from India
• Sri Lanka Tourism carrying out multi-platform global campaigns
• The Tourism Village at Kajugama - Bataleeya
• Minister assures safety of tourists; tough action against errant establishments
• Sri Lanka Tourism impacts French consumers at Salon Mondial Du Tourism (SMT) Travel Fair, Paris, France 2018
• Sri Lanka successfully participates for the first time at DTM 2018
• Underwater with Sri Lanka's sperm whales – in pictures
• Sri Lanka strengthens its industrial ties with Singapore at NATA’s Travel Fair 2018
• Russian visitors impressed with Sri Lanka’s diversity
• Sri Lanka to be the next uprising Paradise for Travel Influencers from around the Globe SLTPB Visiting Blogger Program g
• Sri Lanka Tourism targets top source markets from Western Europe
• Another feather added to Sri Lanka’s cap by the National Geographic
• Update on current situation in Sri Lanka -Kandy returns to normalcy
• SLTPB Visiting Blogger Program geared up for aggressive social media promotion in 2018 with World’s Top Travel influen
• Sri Lanka successfully participates at the Jeddah International Travel & Tourism Exhibition (JTTX-8) 2018 & Road Show in
• Sri Lanka Tourism rolls out effective media campaign at ITB 2018
• ITB is an excellent setting for B2B meetings
• Sri Lanka Tourism aggressive on media & publicity @ ITB 2018
• Sri Lanka Shines at ITB Despite Kandy Blip
• SRI LANKA PARTICIPATION at ASTINDO 2018
• Destinations - The Holiday and Travel Show– Event City Exhibition Centre 17th to 21st January 2018- Manchester
• Holiday World Show 2018 in Dublin Ireland
• Sri Lanka Tourism shines in the Mediterranean at the IMTM Travel Fair 2018
• Sri Lankan Consulate General in Dubai celebrates 70th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence and 25th year Anniversar
• Sri Lanka targets approximately 450,000, Indian arrivals for the year 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism sees Mumbai as a market for high growth
• New dimension to promote Sri Lanka as a destination
• Costa Neo Classica makes her first arrival on the dawn of 2018
• Sri Lanka recognised a preferred Film Destination for British Filmmakers
• Best countries and cities to visit in 2018: The 18 places you should visit this year
• Sri Lanka Tourism taps high-end Luxury French Travelers Participates at -ILTM Travel Fair in Cannes, France 2017
• Open Air Art Gallery
• Iconic City Tour adds zest to Christmas Fest
• Sri Lanka’s participation at the Winter Festival draws attention as an excellent family destination
• Sri Lanka has been named as the most popular destination on Eurasia review
• MS. Costa Neo Classica makes her second portof call to Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Tourism concludes successful roadshows and food & cultural Event in Australia
• Sri Lanka Tourism wins top award at E-Swabhimani Ceremony
• TourismFest to Dazzle Colombo
• Sri Lanka gets another feather in it’s cap as one of Asia’s most sought after travel destinations
• “MS COSTA NEO CLASSICA” makes het debut arrival to Colombo Port on 5th December 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism creates a global impact at the Family Traveller Awards
• Travel Bloggers make Sri Lanka go viral on Social Media
• The Family Traveller Awards 2017 reveals family-centric travel is booming
• Sri Lanka Tourism strike an all-time high at IFTM TOP RESA 2017 Paris, France
• “Ms MEIN SCHIFF 01” makes her debut arrival to Colombo Port on 13th November 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, title sponsor of the prestigious, annual British Guild of Travel Writers Awards, Lon
• Sri Lanka Targets Leading Middle Eastern Tour Operators
• Colombo to have its first international shopping experience with the Colombo International Shopping Festival
• World Tourism day – 2017
• Commemoration of National Coastal and Marine Resources Convocation Week 2017 (15th – 22nd Sep 2017)
• Sri Lanka captures the attention of Gujaratis
• Sri Lanka’s Uniqueness attracts the Germans
• Sri Lanka taps leading Malaysian Tour operators
• Roadshow in Germany held on 12 September 2017 in Cologne.
• Sri Lanka voted finalist for culture and Heritage Holiday Destination for UK Travel Awards
• Developing connections through Culture and Heritage
• Why Sri Lanka is the ultimate destination
• Dengue Epidemic in Sri Lanka is successfully brought under control
• Sri Lanka poised as the next island paradise for International bloggers
• Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) Kolkata inaugurated
• Sri Lanka crowned as "Asia’s Leading Destination" at World Travel Awards -2017
• Drowning prevention in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Tourism shows its compassion towards elephants via training session at Pinnawala
• Sri Lankan Culinary Delights Applauded by Israeli Holiday Makers
• Sri Lanka named Asia’s Leading Destination 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism shows prestige at the ATM
• PATA all set to kick off with their annual summit in Sri Lanka with a bang
• Singapore To Share Digital Tourism Destination Marketing And Promotion Experience With The Democratic Socialist Republic
• German Travel Association contemplates to host next AGM in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka shows its colors at ITB Berlin 2017
• “A Journal of a Journey” at ITB 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism bags Most Popular Destination Award at GTIF 2017
• Sri Lanka captures Bollywood – Sri Lanka to become a favourite location for Indian films
• Strengthening cultural and religious ties
• Sri Lanka Tourism all set to be profoundly aggressive at ITB Berlin 2017
• Sri Lanka goes around the world with "Eclectic Presse"
• Sri Lanka Tourism Conducts Roadshow in Mumbai
• Sri Lanka shines at SATTE Exhibition in New Delhi
• Two graceful beauties take Sri Lanka to greater heights
• Why is Sri Lanka becoming the most fashionable place to travel
• Sri Lankans in New York - Sri Lanka shows its colors in New York
• Sri Lanka wows the Mediterranean again at the Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition
• Sri Lanka Tourism conquers the Mediterranean at the IMTM Travel Fair 2017
• Australia lowers travel advisory for Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai celebrates 69th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Sri Lanka in grand style
• United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration 2017
• Sri Lanka woos Middle East market at IMTM
• Sri Lanka - An Island for all Seasons for the wider Latin American Market FITUR, Madrid 2017
• Top tourism professional to promote Sri Lanka in Europe
• Sri Lanka Tourism creates a hallmark at the Vakantiebeurs 2017
• German TV crew set to take the Sri Lankan pride to the world
• 55th visit to Sri Lanka – An amazing land mark to achieve
• The hottest hotels opening in 2017: From Iceland to India
• Readers' Choice
• Where to Go in 2017
• The 10 Hottest Travel Destinations of 2017
• Tourism Fest concludes becoming a major crowd puller
• PM kicks off Christmas cheer
• Sri Lankan spirit showcased in Malaysia
• Sri Lanka Tourism kicks off an underground campaign in UK Train Stations
• TT WARSAW – International Travel Show 24 – 26 Nov., 2016 – Warsaw, Poland
• Business Today interview with Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Mr.Paddy Withana
• Tourism Fest To Dazzle Colombo
• Sri Lanka wins ‘’ Best Destination of the Beaten Track ‘’ at the Conde Nast Traveler Middle East Readers ‘Choi
• Sri Lanka Tourism brings all smiles to a rural school in Habarana
• Road Shows in Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary on 14th, 16th and 19th Sept., 2016
• TTG Incontri Travel Fair A 3 day workshop for Tourism Professionals Rimini, Italy - 13th – 15th Oct., 2016
• Sri Lanka shines in UK in WTM
• Mr. Sutheash Balasubramaniam appointed as new Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB)
• WTM 2016 : Elite Traveler Recommends the Best of Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Tourism has been added to the Worldwide Destination Guide
• Ukraine International Airlines Launches Services To Colombo
• Congres des Entrepreneurs du Voyage (JEV) bringing Two nations together
• Oman Travel Agents get a glimpse of Sri Lankan prestige
• SriLanka Tourism Chairman top priorities are its people, environment, wildlife, culture
• Sri Lanka to host French Travel agents’ JEV Congress 2016
• Inaugural Concert of Sri Lankan Cultural Dancing Shows
• Sri Lanka Nation Brand records 9% growth in 2016
• Sri Lanka wows the Sakura Land at the JATA Tourism Expo at Tokyo Big Sight
• Sri Lanka featured as a world tourism hotspot at IFTM Top Resa Travel Fair in Paris, France -2016
• Sri Lanka to shows prestige in crafts work in India
• German Tour operators experience the Sri Lankan splendor on Familiarization Tours
• Sri Lanka Tourism shows local prestige at the OTDYKH Travel Market
• The Sri Lankan flag flies high in Eastern Europe Road Shows in Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary
• Sri Lanka makes inroads in Nordic countries
• Sri Lanka Tourism all set to participate in UK trade road show
• Familiarization Tour for Key Tour Operators from Germany
• Strengthening friendships between neighbors to boost the tourism sector
• Sri Lanka adds color to Kualalumpur at MATTA 2016
• Travel bloggers embark on a journey to discover food and adventure in Sri Lanka
• SLTPB kick-starts Nordic roadshow with success
• Familiarization Tour of Sri Lanka by Thai Travel Agents
• Capturing the special moments of the train ride arranged for UNWTO delegates
• International travel writers, bloggers and electronic media to cover Kandy Perehera
• 35 Photos that will make you want to travel Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau organized its first Road Show in Singapore
• Legendary Ramayana epic will be expected to uplift Indian tourists’ arrival during the period of upcoming Dewali
• Nuwara Eliya To Host World's Oldest Golf Tournament
• FAM Tour organized by SLTPB in collaboration with Air India for local press
• Sri Lanka Tourism won a couple of awards at the 31st Korea World Travel Fair(KOTFA 2016)-South Korea.
• Conde Nast Traveler named Sigiriya as one The 50 Most Beautiful Places in Asia
• The hottest hotels in Asia and Australia
• Seoul Grand Park held the event 'Culture Day with elephants.'
• The Road Show of Sri Lanka Tourism.
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau focused to promote Buddhist tourism in Thailand
• SL Tourism at Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE - 2016)
• Sri Lanka Tourism has geared up its Visiting Journalist Program to promote Destination Sri Lanka in uprising markets
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion during the Pearl Fishers Opera at the Art Centre in Melbourne on 28th May 2016
• Sri lanka Roadshows toast success in Sydney
• Tea Kiosk at the Bandaranaike International Airport to celebrate Golden Jubilee of Sri Lanka Tourism.
• Asian & Oceanian Championship 2016 starts in Trincomalee
• Sri Lanka Tourism celebrates its Golden Jubilee on 27th May 2016 in Colombo
• Department of Economics, University of Colombo wins Best IFITTtalk 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism launches its Road show promotions from Melbourne
• Sri Lanka Tourism takes on Brisbane, Australia
• Sri Lanka Tourism promotes the island as an ideal film destination at Cannes Film Festival
• Sri Lanka Tourism arrives its 50th year
• Visit of Mr. Suniel Shetty
• Buddha Rashmi National Vesak Festival 2016
• ATM 2016 – SRI LANKA targets high end tourists from Middle East
• Sri Lanka Tourism at ATM
• A unique tea garden to create a value added experience to the tourists during nuwara eliya season
• Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Mobile Service Goes Online
• Traditional Avurudu experience at Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Colombo
• Sri Lanka at Seatrade Cruise Global 2016, Fort Lauderdale, USA
• COLOMBO SAESM 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism creates waves in the Russia’s No.1 Travel and Tourism Exhibition - MITT in Moscow
• Tourism Road Show events to promote Sri Lanka to industry stakeholders of the Benelux region
• Sri Lanka has released an aggressive island promotion campaign at the beginning of 2016 to attract more French Tourists
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion during the Pearl Fishers Opera at the Opera House in Sydney
• Tourist Information Counter on board “MS Amsterdam”
• ITB Spark!!! - Sri Lanka Tourism shines at ITB Berlin 2016
• Beeralu lace- handicrafts - Sri Lanka Tourism at London Asia House Design 2016
• The “Colombo Bike Week” to boost recreational tourism
• Quest means Business in Sri Lanka
• Hon. Ms Iris Gleicke, the State Secretary visits the Sri Lanka stand at ITB
• Press conference – ITB 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism hits a high note at the Opening ceremony at ITB Berlin 2016
• Sri Lanka wins the most popular destination at Tourism at Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF) 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism at Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) , Mumbai 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism at ITB Berlin (9-13th March 2016)
• Sri Lanka Tourism targets Finland market by Participating at MATKA Nordic Travel Fair 2016 in Helsinki, Finland
• The Young Leaders of the Economic Forum on a journey of Culture and Heritage with Sri Lanka Tourism
• Taking cultural and religious parades of Sri Lanka to the world
• Launching a Logo to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Tourism
• Fox News (USA) recommend Destination Sri Lanka
• TripAdvisor looks forward sustainable tourism Conference on Global Travel Insights
• Sri Lanka Tourism attracts flourishing number of foreign spectators to 2016 Duruthu Perahera
• South Asia’s very first Blood Ivory Destruction Event
• Sri Lanka Tourism links with CITES and industry stakeholders to promote Responsible Wildlife Tourism
• Sri Lanka Tourism begins the new year 2016, by investing on a lucrative promotional campaign to shine in South Korea
• ‘Destination Sri Lanka’ at Vakantiebeurs 2016
• Dream Trips 2016 recognises “The World's most extraordinary places to add to your travel wish list”
• Sri LankaTourism poised for sustainable growth...
• MALINDO AIR LAUNCHES DAILY KL-COLOMBO ROUTE
• THE NEW YORK POST REVEALS THE TOP HOTELS TO VISIT IN 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism To Take-off Seasonal Celebrations at the Arcade Independence Square
• The Kingsbury wins World Luxury Hotel Award
• Sri Lanka Tourism showcases at World Travel Mart London with 64 Industry Partners
• Sri Lanka Tourism comes board for ITB Asia 2015 Travel Show
• Austrian Airlines inaugurate flights to Sri Lanka ..
• Sri Lanka wins hosting French Travel Agents Congress (SNAV) 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism showcase “One Island, Thousand Treasures” at IFTM Travel Fair Paris , France 2015 ….
• Tourism Receipts touch $2.1 billion as at end September 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism launches Community Aid Tourism with Olympic Gold medallion
• Sri Lanka Tourism must focus on Asian Tourism as arrivals reach 45%
• Sri Lanka Tourism with Pink my Tuk Tuk launch Global Online video competition
• Scandinavian markets grow by 32%: Sri Lanka Tourism focussed marketing drive
• Tourism Record in September: arrivals jump 35.9% to cross 1.3 million
• Elephant Reach Crowned "Best Wildlife Resort" by Lonely Planet Magazine
• Sri Lanka ride the wave at Japan Tourism Expo 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism celebrate 'World Tourism Day' to upgrade industry competitiveness
• The 1st ever Cruise Tourism Marketing Plan presented to the New Tourism Minister
• Sri Lanka focus on South Korea's 14 million outbound market
• Sri Lanka Tourism French Marketing blitz launched
• World Tourism Day 2015- Sri Lanka Tourism & Colombo University MOU to be inked
• Sri Lanka - Cultural focus country at Key Italian Travel Fair TTG
• No 1 GLOBAL SOURCE MARKET: Sri Lanka Tourism launch multi city Road show in Germany
• Miss England plants the 500,000th in the One Million Tree Story Project
• Mr and Miss UK commends Sri Lanka- Destination of the Year title:
• Sri Lanka Tourism to highlight the 1706th Esala Perahera at Japan JATA World Expo 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism show at World Scouts Jamboree - Japan
• Sri Lanka Tourism take Guinness attempt globally from Russia
• SRI LANKA CHALLENGED
• Sri Lanka win the ' Best Stall' - China Xi'an Silk Road Tourism Expo 2015
• UK's best selling newspaper picks Sri Lanka- Destination of the year
• Sri Lanka Tourism enter China's growing religious tourism business
• Sri Lanka Tourism focus on a Indian niche market- IAS officers
• Sri Lanka passes the Guinness Record for largest Tea Party in Kandy
• Sri Lanka tourism to auction Ceylon Sapphire at Scandinavia TUR Travel Fair
• Sri Lanka Tourism, Tea board and Sri Lankan Airlines quest for Guinness Record
• Sri Lanka Tourism focussing on the $92 billion German source market
• Sri Lanka Tourism blitz on Sony Six for Sanga Farewell
• $16.4 million "Monkey Kingdom" launched today in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Tourism to take Tea theme at World Travel Mart London 2015
• SL Tourism Launch Global Online Video Competition for 365 days holiday
• Sri Lanka Tourism selects 8 American kids for tour of “Monkey Kingdom Trail"
• Sports Tourism is worth $600 billion and Sri Lanka enters with Golf and Surfing
• Sri Lanka Tourism to make cruise segment a top 5 earner for Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka makes inroad to Indian religious tourism market
• China as the tops Tourism arrivals in July crossing 25,000 visitors at +65.5%
• We have to attract the $250 tourist, let's not just chase visitor arrivals
• Whilst Tea brews for Sri Lanka Tourism - arrivals cross 1 million by July 2015
• Sri Lanka Focus On The US$ 2 Billion Whale Watching Bussiness
• Sri Lanka Tourism presents Trinco comes alive !
• Sri Lanka Tourism targeting 75,000 travellers from Australia
• Half Year Tourism earning at $1.3bn - Informal sector continues to drive tourist arrivals
• “Expo 2015 secure a 53 million Sapphire order for Sri Lanka” - Commissioner General Sri Lanka 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism launch strong marketing campaign in India
• Two Sri Lanka Tourism Board members win Outstanding Achievement awards
• Sri Lanka Tourism to launch Monkey Kingdom in China
• Sri Lanka Tourism search for Top Global Ad agency
• Sri Lanka Tourism takes high ground on $40bn Silk Road initiative - Qingdao
• Sri Lanka wins Best Tourism Pavilion at Beijing International travel Fair !!
• Tourism Informal sector touching 50% at 7.3mn Guest Nights
• Sri Lanka Tourism beat 52 countries to win top award at Global Travel Fair- KOTFA
• Tourism Promotions Bureau Depoliticized - will work strongly with private sector !
• Sri Lanka Tourism- Air India tap into Trade Tourism
• Sri Lanka Tourism to drive Niche Markets in South Korea
• MISS EARTH ON BOARD THE COLOMBO CITY TOUR
• Sri Lanka focus on the key market - South Korea worth 14 million travellers
• Sri Lanka Tourism - Korean Air joint promotions in South Korean market
• Sri Lanka Tourism strengthens ties with Xinhua News Agency
• University of Sri Jayewardenepura to be the think tank for Sri Lanka Tourism
• Sri Lanka pavilion at Expo Milano cross 30,000 + visitors!
• Miss Earth visits Sri Lanka Tourism whilst earnings touch $1billion by April 2015
• Miss Earth commends Colombo as top fastest growing tourist cities of 2015
• Sri Lanka in a Guinness Record Initiative
• Sri Lanka Tourism launch 200 million new brand building strategy
• 1st time -SL Tourism in Global Cruise push in Busan Korea.
• Sri Lanka Tourism practice nation brand building pillar support
• Expo Milano 2015: Global Endorsement for Sri Lanka
• 14,270 visitors experience Sri Lankan treasures - Expo 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism in joint promotion talks with Tourism Maldives
• Sri Lanka Tourism- One Island, thousand treasures
• Sri Lankan Disney Film cross $14.3 million ticket sales in US
• Grow without hurting the Environment – Sri Lanka ranked low at 103
• Private sector thumps up for Tourism strategy
• Sri Lanka Tourism wins Global award at Tourism Expo China
• Sri Lanka - one of the top stalls at Arabian Travel Fair as arrivals surge by 16.4%
• Sri Lanka Tourism launch focussed Marketing plan for Italy after a lapse of 2 years
• $1.3 million charter from Italy - 1st win from Expo 2015 !!
• Nation Brand building merges to destination marketing in today's digital age
• Expo 2015 launched: Sri Lanka to connect stronger to the west
• Chairman unite to power Brand Sri Lanka on a ROI model
• China offers Sichuan province World Tourism Fair Free for Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka to focus on the $2 billion whale watching business
• Sri Lanka Cruise Tourism doubles - Global Marketing push locked
• ME grow by 20.1% in Q1- SL Tourism target Riyadh
• Sri Lanka tea board and Sri Lanka tourism partnership working globally
• UK grows by 14.8in Q1 - SL Tourism in marketing blitz in Birmingham
• 441 Australians cruise travelers visit Pinnawala
• Expo 2015 attracts 200 top SL private sector entities
• ‘MONKEY KINGDOM’- Sri Lanka in Disney’s Spotlight in the US
• Carles Puyol attracts 1 million views to Sri Lanka
• Focussed marketing plan launched for China as arrivals sore by 84.5%
• Tourist arrivals grow by 18% in March and 1st quarter by 13.6%
• Sri Lanka exports revving for this year’s historic Milano blitz
• Lanka’s brand value to reach US$ 79 b in 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism tie up with National Craft Council for Global Promotions
• MOU with CCTV mooted by Minister of Tourism
• Sri Lanka Tourism Strategy - China 2015 launched with private sector
• Russia – Sri Lanka Tourism does focussed brand building
• Sri Lanka Unites – Expo Milano 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism enters the $40 bn Cruiseline business
• Sri Lanka Tourism becomes top 4 at Global Tourism show
• Sri Lanka Tourism to focus on Swedish Market with Scene based Marketing
• Sri Lanka Tourism to invest Rs.1.2 bn only on trade fairs globally
• Sri Lanka Tourism includes Scandinavian countries in focus market drive
• Sri lanka tourism taps high potential czech republic market
• Sri Lanka launches new product - Ramanya Trail
• Recreation Tourism - a new trend globally
• Tourism "Celebrate Colombo" with Amazing Rides at CFW 2015
• Sri Lanka tea board and Sri Lanka tourism partnership working at ITB
• Sri Lanka Tourism and Sri Lankan air lines tie up at ITB
• After 10 years the Tourism hierarchy at ITB
• Sri Lanka Tourism to "Celebrate Colombo" at CFW 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism win at GITF China
• Sustainability is a way of life for Sri Lanka - Navin
• German Governemt supports the New government vision
• New Sri Lanka tourism chief, new spirits- launches new business model
• “Positive Transformation” - Sri Lanka's theme at ITB 2015
• The rescue mission of Dutch couple tells the world how much we care for Foreign Guest
• Sri Lanka Tourism and Tea Board in a Rs.1bn tie up
• UK travellers to woo Sri Lanka as a Weddings & Honeymoons destination
• Sri Lanka Tourism gathers momentum at key Italian Travel Fair
• One Million Trees Project
• Marketing Sri Lanka via Film Tourism
• Mega Travel Influencer ‘Nas Daily’ join-hands to promote Tourism in Sri Lanka November 24, 2023
• Sri Lanka celebrates its milestone surpassing 100,000 Russian arrivals through direct flights August 8, 2023
• The 67th Conference of TAAI commenced at the BMICH in Colombo August 8, 2023
• Sri Lanka Tourism promotes its Travel and Tourism Potential in three Australian cities July 17, 2023
• All set for the TAAI Convention hosted by Sri Lanka Tourism held from 6th - 9th July July 6, 2023
• Sri Lanka Tourism hosts a gala Sri Lankan themed dinner for New Zealand and Sri Lankan Women’s Cricket teams July 6, 2023
• Sri Lanka Tourism bounce back with a positive influx of tourist arrivals July 6, 2023
• New Zealand Women’s cricket team receive a warm welcome from Sri Lanka Tourism on their first Sri Lanka tour in 11 yea July 6, 2023
• SLCB Unveils MICE Training Programme for Regional Hoteliers in Kandy & Nuwara Eliya Regions June 23, 2023
• 'Air Seychelles' makes its Inaugural flight to Sri Lanka, with Familiarization Tours in line June 23, 2023
• SLTPB and SLAITO partners to host the 67th Convention of TAAI in Colombo June 20, 2023
• UK Bloggers & Influencers FAM Tour in Sri Lanka Showcases Island's Captivating Beauty and Diverse Socio-Cultural Facets June 19, 2023
• Sri Lanka Tourism Taps Middle Eastern Region at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) – 2023 June 13, 2023
• Sri Lanka Tourism makes waves at the Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF 2023) June 7, 2023
• “Cordelia Empress’’ makes her maiden call on Hambantota Port June 7, 2023
• Vietnamese Media Personnel impressed with Sri Lankan attractions June 7, 2023
• "Seeing is Believing” campaign is launched by Aitken Spence, Jetwing, Cinnamon in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism May 19, 2023
• The Queen of Polish Pop “DODA” visits Sri Lanka to promote the destination among the Polish Travelers May 15, 2023
• Spanish Travel influencers conclude familiarization trip on a successful note May 10, 2023
• An Island’s Eleven – A complete history of Sri Lanka Cricket May 8, 2023
• Korean Media Personnel Highlights Sri Lanka as a must visit Tourist destination April 18, 2023
• Foreign couple enter wedlock going by the Sri Lankan tradition April 17, 2023
• Forbes lists Sri Lanka as one of the 23 best places to visit in 2023 April 17, 2023
• Sri Lanka Tourism hosts a FAM tour for Filipino Tour operators in order to enhance Bilateral and Business connections April 11, 2023
• Australian Travel Agents Experience Sri Lanka’s uniqueness on FAM Tour April 11, 2023
• Journalists and bloggers across the globe join hands together to promote Sri Lanka April 11, 2023
• Sri Lanka participation at Outbound Travel Market (OTM) Jio World Convention Centre | Mumbai 02 - 04 February, 2023 April 11, 2023
• Sri Lanka becomes Cynosure at MITT Travel Show in Russia 16th to 18th March 2023 March 29, 2023
• All set for the world’s largest all female Adventure Challenge,’’ RAID AMAZONES 2023’’ March 24, 2023
• Sri Lanka welcomes the first group of Chinese tourists for 2023 with open arms March 10, 2023
• Sri Lanka Targets German Travelers at ITB in Berlin March 10, 2023
• Sri Lanka participates at the Milano BIT 2023, International Tourism Exchange 12 – 14 Feb 2023 March 2, 2023
• Indian Social Media influencers conclude their all island bike tour on a positive note February 24, 2023
• Veteran Indian Movie star promotes Sri Lanka across the world January 28, 2023
• Sri Lanka Tourism returns to Spanish Market after pandemic January 27, 2023
• Italian Media personnel mesmerized with Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity January 16, 2023
• ‘’ Race the Pearl ‘’ concludes with the French –British domination November 18, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism collaborates with Air Arabia to host a group of Travel Agents from Azerbaijan November 16, 2022
• Sri Lanka Targets Travellers at World Travel Market (WTM) in London November 9, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism focuses on the Egyptian Market, by hosting an Industrial FAM Tour For Egyptian Travel Agents November 4, 2022
• Sri Lanka has taken the limelight in Bollywood & Sandalwood Cinemas with Yohani October 21, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism embarks on a series of Road Shows in India September 23, 2022
• Culture, Cuisine, dance and destination featured at Sri Lanka Cultural Festival Stockholm September 6, 2022
• Developing cultural and historical ties between India and Sri Lanka through the “Murugan Trail” August 29, 2022
• Indian Media and Travel influencers have taken the lead to support Sri Lanka Tourism August 15, 2022
• Sri Lanka Masters Hockey Men teams to take part in 2022 World Cup in England August 10, 2022
• A delegation of students from the University of Lincoln arrives on a Study Tour to Sri Lanka July 5, 2022
• Sri Lanka participates at South Asia’s Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2022 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Del June 3, 2022
• LEASING OF UCHCHAMUNAI ISLAND IN KALPITIYA May 15, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau welcomes Israeli Film Crew April 22, 2022
• Singapore Airlines signs MOU with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau April 22, 2022
• Promoting Sri Lanka and its many diverse facets to the World April 22, 2022
• Media personnel from Korea conclude their FAM Tour in Sri Lanka April 11, 2022
• The 2nd stage of Raid Amazones 2022 concludes with Adventure, Energy and Enthusiasm April 7, 2022
• The Second stage of Raid Amazones 2022 (Video Highlights ) March 30, 2022
• The 2nd edition of Raid Amazones kicks off in style with another 214 participants ready to face the challenge March 30, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism’s Influencer Program continues to create global buzz by making the island a ‘Bucket List Holiday D March 25, 2022
• Swedish Tourism Industry specialists and Tour Operators to enhance partnerships to elevate Tourism to Sri Lanka March 25, 2022
• The first stage of Raid Amazones 2022 concludes on a Successful Note March 23, 2022
• The first stage of Raid Amazones 2022 concludes on a Successful Note ( Video Highlights ) March 23, 2022
• Raid Amazones 2022 Continue for the 4th Successive Day - Highlights (Images/videos) March 22, 2022
• Raid Amazones 2022 -3rd and 4th day's highlights March 20, 2022
• Raid Amazones, the largest tourism program in the country after the Covid -19 pandemic - Day 02 March 19, 2022
• Vietnamese Tour operators arrive in Sri Lanka for a Media and Trade FAM March 16, 2022
• RAID AMAZONES arrival and the welcome at Sigiriya March 16, 2022
• Raid Amazones, the largest tourism program in the country after the Covid -19 pandemic begins March 16, 2022
• Participants and officials of ‘’Raid Amazones ‘’ arrive in the island to take part in the world’s largest ‘ March 15, 2022
• Sri Lanka to be promoted all across Poland as a paradise destination March 15, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism continues to earn high media coverage at EXPO 2020 Dubai March 14, 2022
• Sri Lanka to boost awareness among Bangladesh tourists March 11, 2022
• TVN Discovery/National Geographic Traveler FAM Tour March 6, 2022
• The Joint Press Release by Sri Lanka Embassy in Germany, German Travel Association- DRV and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion March 5, 2022
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid of the UAE and H.E. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Visit Sri Lanka Pavilion at Expo 2020 Duba February 22, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism and Health Guidelines February 22, 2022
• Press Release: Santani becomes the first Sri Lankan hotel to be selected as “worlds best” – hailed as Best Wellnes February 22, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism Facilitates the country’s first Cable Car Project to take off soon. February 22, 2022
• Regarding the photo of ‘Pattipola Tourist Comfort Centre’ that is being widely circulated across social media. February 22, 2022
• The Sri Lanka Virtual MICE Expo 2021 breaks new ground February 22, 2022
• Brand Sri Lanka reports robust health as per latest brand report February 22, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism kick-start an aggressive media and travel influencer campaign for Russia and Ukraine markets February 22, 2022
• EXPO 2020 DUBAI Tourism earns high media mileage February 22, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism commands attention at World Routes 2021 February 22, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism and Australia’s MDF webinar to Share Insights from 10,000 Consumers from 10 Key Markets to Strategic February 22, 2022
• Sri Lanka Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai Welcomes Queens Baton Relay February 21, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism supported by EU to develop wellness tourism February 14, 2022
• Brides of Sri Lanka magazine together with Galle Face Hotel hosts ‘Wedding Week 2022’ February 8, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism welcomes the Trade Fam Tour from Russia & Ukraine February 8, 2022
• Sri Lanka Tourism hosts Miss International UK January 3, 2022
• Sri Lanka, the next holiday destination for Australian tourists promoted in Melbourne November 21, 2021
• Destination Sri Lanka presented at TNM - Sweden’s premier Tourism event November 15, 2021
• Sri Lanka is now open for International Travellers November 15, 2021
• Sri Lanka spreads its holiday vibes at WTM, as vibrant and a unique travel destination November 10, 2021
• DEEPAWALI, TURNING A NEW CHAPTER FOR INDO-LANKA CULTURAL & TOURISM RELATIONS November 10, 2021
• Sri Lanka poised to see upsurge of Polish tourists November 8, 2021
• Sri Lanka opens its doors to international travellers to experience travel and adventure November 3, 2021
• Sri Lanka plans Virtual MICE Expo to sustain buzz on the destination in the global business community October 29, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism kicks off film tourism promotions within Indian Cinema to attract more Indian tourists to the island October 26, 2021
• Sri Lanka Pavilion shines through October 21, 2021
• Sri Lanka Voted among ‘The Best Countries to Travel to’ in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards October 16, 2021
• Social media rant investigated October 13, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau conducts an awareness session via zoom for Outbound travel agents and tourism stake October 11, 2021
• Sri Lanka celebrates the World Children’s Day in Austria October 11, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Strategically Promoted in France October 6, 2021
• Sri Lanka pavilion inaugurated at Expo 2020 Dubai October 4, 2021
• Sharing the future tourism prospects in Sri Lanka with Vietnamese Travel Agents September 29, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Achieves Growth through Strategic Partnerships with Foreign Missions September 29, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism commemorates World Tourism Day 2021 September 27, 2021
• Travel Talk Article - 2nd September 2021 September 23, 2021
• Popular Couch Safari Back with Wilpattu National Park September 22, 2021
• Discover the Wonders of Wilpattu National Park Sri Lanka via Wildlife Streaming September 16, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, conducts a Webin September 14, 2021
• Recognising the vital role of SMEs in Sri Lanka’s Tourism Sector September 1, 2021
• The Kandy Esala Perahera Live-Streamed Globally August 31, 2021
• SRI LANKA PAVILLION TAKES SHAPE FOR EXPO 2020 DUBAI August 13, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Lures Digital Nomads July 13, 2021
• Initiative to vaccinate those who are involved in the Tourism industry in order to rejuvenate Tourism July 12, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism enables sustainable development July 12, 2021
• Bloomberg Lists Sigiriya as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World July 4, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Harnesses Technology to Enhance the Traveler Experience June 29, 2021
• Keep the Sri Lankan Holiday Dream Alive June 14, 2021
• The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) signs MoU with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne June 11, 2021
• Digital Transformation of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management May 11, 2021
• Experiences Reshaping Tourism May 5, 2021
• CNN Shines Global Spotlight on Sri Lanka Tourism May 4, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Hosts a Virtual Media Conference with German and Swiss Media April 29, 2021
• Global Tourism Industry News April 28, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism gears up for the turn over a new page in tourism – with a webinar for UK based Tour Operators and Me April 20, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism ‘s International Travel Blogger & Journalist Program to support SME’s April 7, 2021
• SRI LANKAN TOURISMS’ BIO BUBBLE RECOGNIZED AT ITB BERLIN April 1, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority approves Bolagala Floating Agro Tourism Resort in Katana – a novel Agro Touris March 24, 2021
• Sri Lanka Convention Bureau launches “Meet in Sri Lanka” series to resume MICE Tourism. March 17, 2021
• MICE Tourism Media Release March 5, 2021
• Sri Lanka Tourism to launch ‘Global Communication Campaign’ March 5, 2021
• Covid-19 Vaccination for the Tourism industry March 4, 2021
• CNN hails steps taken to reopen tourism in Sri Lanka February 27, 2021
• ‘Hello Again’ virtual tourism awareness session held for US based tour operators and media February 1, 2021
• German travellers visiting Sri Lanka with the opening of the Airport for international Tourists January 23, 2021
• AS SRI LANKA OPENS FOR TOURISM A GERMAN DELEGATION VISITS SRI LANKA ON AYURVA TOURISM January 23, 2021
• SRI LANKA TOURISM GEARS UP TO WELCOME INTERNATIONAL VISITORS January 18, 2021
• The second BIMSTEC Network of Tour Operators meeting concludes with new initiatives for developing regional tourism December 18, 2020
• CHINESE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MART OPEN FOR VIRTUAL TRAVEL BUSINESS SLTPB Registered Businesses to have extended 6 month December 11, 2020
• PATA PROVIDES GLOBAL. EXPERT MENTORING FOR SRI LANKA TOURISM TO REDESIGN REVIVAL STRATEGY POST COVID-19 December 10, 2020
• The World Travel Market - UK (WTM) Virtual Event held 9th – 11th November 2020/ Sri Lanka Tourism aims at upsurge in November 25, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism's Wildlife Streaming event “Couch Safari' - A resounding success November 23, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism goes global on Nile TV to woo the Mediterranean traveler November 16, 2020
• “Go on Safari on the couch " –Wild Life streaming in Sri Lanka National Parks draws attraction from the Turkish trav November 16, 2020
• SRI LANKA TOURISM ENGAGES AUSTRALIA’S KEY STAKEHOLDERS on Destination Readiness and Innovation in a New Era November 13, 2020
• Couch Safari – Sri Lanka Tourism’s virtual adventure gains popularity among international travellers November 10, 2020
• Couch Safari - Taking Srilanka wild life to the world October 28, 2020
• ‘Go on a couch safari’ concept to be promoted by Sri Lanka Tourism October 22, 2020
• ENGAGING KEY SOURCE COUNTRY TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS VIA WEBINARS SLTPB teams up foreign missions to upsurge Post COVID Tou October 22, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism attends Virtual ‘ANTOR Meets the Media’ October 13, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism collaborates with International Travel Influencers to keep alive ‘Sri Lankan Holiday’ dream October 12, 2020
• Sri Lanka shows it’s potential at the “Flavours of Sri Lanka” Destination Promotion Event October 8, 2020
• Sri Lanka celebrates the World Children’s Day in style at Vienna, Austria October 8, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism reaches out to Sri Lankan Missions Overseas;H.E. Dr. Palitha Kohona, newly appointed Ambassador to Chi September 26, 2020
• Adapting to new normal, Sri Lanka Tourism goes virtual to promote ‘Wildlife’ September 23, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism is set to celebrate World Tourism Day 2020 under the theme “Tourism and Rural Development” from 25 September 22, 2020
• CNBC to promote Sri Lanka Tourism in Goodwill gesture September 15, 2020
• SLTDA creates provisional licensing to assist SMEs. July 16, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism to support SME’s and product development with EU funding July 9, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism lobbies for inclusion in travel corridors July 8, 2020
• BBC collaborates with Sri Lanka Tourism to revive the Tourism Sector July 7, 2020
• Tourism Ministry and SLTDA step in to provide relief to the Tourism industry stakeholders July 7, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism is all set to host UNWTO’s 32nd Asia and the Pacific Virtual Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow. June 29, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism Post COVID-19 - Way Forward June 25, 2020
• 11,389 tourists in Sri Lanka currently and Sri Lanka Tourism requests them to register with the recently launched “Tou May 7, 2020
• Relief Measures for Tourist Guides during the COVID -19 outbreak April 12, 2020
• Arrangements are in place for international tourists to get to their home countries – Sri Lanka to allow charter fligh March 26, 2020
• Sri Lanka to host top UN World Tourism Organization Conference in Colombo. March 3, 2020
• SLTDA and BOI sign MoU to enhance cooperation between the two agencies. February 28, 2020
• Press Release: Sri Lanka Tourism and Police in discussion to enhance the safety and security of tourists. February 25, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism kicked off aggressive travel blogger & influencer campaign for 2020 by inviting 27 International Trave February 25, 2020
• Spanish travelers enthralled by Sri Lanka at FITUR International Travel Fair 2020 Madrid, Spain February 24, 2020
• Sri Lanka shows its colors at FESPO Travel Fair, Zurich, Switzerland February 20, 2020
• Indian visitors embrace Sri Lanka’s Tourism attractions with enthusiasm at the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2020, in Mum February 13, 2020
• Sri Lanka shows its capability at the Wanderlust Travel Reader Awards 2020 February 13, 2020
• Sri Lanka becomes the centre of attraction at the Vakantiebeurs Travel Fair 2020 February 13, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau shows it’s potential at CMT 2020, Germany January 26, 2020
• A high profile delegation from Holland arrives in Sri Lanka for a familiarization visit January 21, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau collaborates with ITV UK for destination promotion January 18, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau makes a successful contribution at SATTE 2020 January 16, 2020
• Sri Lanka targets more Western European tourist arrivals at the ILTM, Cannes 2019 January 13, 2020
• Sri Lanka named as Asia’s best destination for Wildlife tourism at Top Asia Corporate ball 2019, and selected for the January 6, 2020
• Sri Lanka Tourism shares the spirit of Christmas with local & foreign tourists December 27, 2019
• Sri Lanka appreciated as “The Destination for the Rising Chinese travellers’’ in Chengdu Sichuan. December 24, 2019
• Sri Lanka kicks off Tourism Promotional Evening and Cultural night in Dubai parallel to the Dubai Rugby sevens. December 20, 2019
• WTM London unveils Sri Lanka as premier partner for 2019 December 20, 2019
• Sri Lanka participates in the fourth travel Expo Exhibition in Ankara, Turkey December 17, 2019
• Sri Lanka highlights its Tourism Potential at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) 2019, Shanghai, China December 16, 2019
• Sri Lanka showcases it’s potential at the China International Travel Mart (CITM 2019), Shanghai, China December 13, 2019
• Japanese Tour Operators/ Agents participate in a FAM Tour to promote Sri Lanka as a travel destination December 4, 2019
• Vistara , India’s finest full service carrier inaugurates Mumbai – Colombo service December 2, 2019
• Sri Lanka Promoted As A Travel Destination In Belgium November 27, 2019
• Digital Billboard Campaign to promote SL Tourism in Netherlands for the first time November 27, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism holds ‘’Taste of Abu Dhabi ‘’ in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in the U.A.E November 25, 2019
• Sri Lanka Participates at Travel News Market 2019- Stockholm November 25, 2019
• “Feel & Share So Sri Lanka” - international Travel Media & Blogger Promotional Program geared-up by Sri Lanka Touri November 20, 2019
• Newly renovated Tourist Information Centre opens in Kandy November 15, 2019
• Sri Lanka bags two awards at the World Travel Awards 2019 November 15, 2019
• Sri Lanka Participates at ITB ASIA 2019 in Singapore November 15, 2019
• Sri Lanka makes a hall mark at the Swiss International Holiday Exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland November 15, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism partners with several International Organizations at IMM Asia 2019 November 15, 2019
• Sri Lanka promotes tourism at the International Tourism and Travel Show in Montreal November 15, 2019
• International Travel Influencers step-up to Give back to the nature in Sri Lanka November 14, 2019
• Popular Travel blog ‘’My Adventure across the world ‘’ takes Sri Lanka to the centre stage November 14, 2019
• LOT Polish Airlines makes its inaugural flight to Sri Lanka November 14, 2019
• Costa Victoria makes her debut call at the port of Colombo November 14, 2019
• Sri Lanka dazzles as Premier Partner at World Travel Market November 11, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism Celebrates the Big Win by Santani at the World Travel Market UK November 9, 2019
• A high profile delegation from Belgium arrives in Sri Lanka for a familiarization visit November 6, 2019
• Sri Lanka shows its prestige at JATA Tourism Expo 2019 November 5, 2019
• Sri lanka promotes tourism at the international book fair in frankfurt October 28, 2019
• The German Travel Association extends its support to Sri Lanka Tourism October 28, 2019
• Italian Celebrity Chef to support Sri Lanka Tourism October 24, 2019
• Sri Lanka strikes a promising high at Travel Fair in Italy October 17, 2019
• Australian Travel Agents impressed with Sri Lanka Tourism October 17, 2019
• Recognizing Jaffna: A Culinary Adventure by Popular YouTubers - Chopstick Travel October 10, 2019
• Sri Lankan Holidays launch in Dubai October 7, 2019
• Sri Lanka showcases sustainable tourism at MATTA Trade Fair 2019 October 4, 2019
• Sri Lanka shows its potential at the OTDYKH Leisure & Tourism fair October 2, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism gains momentum at IFTM TOP RESA Travel Fair 2019 in Paris, France October 2, 2019
• So Sri Lanka Pro 2019 kick starts on a triumphant note October 2, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism Celebrates World Tourism Day with Foreign Guests at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) September 30, 2019
• Tourism Promotions Bureau Starts Global TV advertising to boost tourism to Sri Lanka September 20, 2019
• So Sri Lanka Pro 2019 September 11, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau welcomes a delegation of high profile Indian journalists to Sri Lanka September 10, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism gears up for the So Sri Lanka Pro 2019 September 6, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau hosted the Board of Directors meeting of United Federations of Travel Agents Associat September 6, 2019
• Ministers Initiative in Thailand pays Dividends September 4, 2019
• Tourism Industry commends the lifting of the state emergency September 3, 2019
• Visa Fee Exempted to 48 countries in order to bring more tourists to the country August 30, 2019
• Sri Lanka gears up for the Global Bohra Convention 2019 August 27, 2019
• Australian Tour Operators Chairman meets the Tourism Minister August 27, 2019
• International Culinary YouTubers Explore Colombo Cuisine August 16, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau hosts networking session for travel bloggers August 15, 2019
• Sri Lanka shines at the Shopping Mall Promotion in Malaysia August 6, 2019
• Chinese journalists on FAM tour July 24, 2019
• The West Asia Baseball Cup 2019 July 19, 2019
• Capitalizing on increased interest by Aussie tourists July 17, 2019
• Thai expertise to expedite tourism recovery July 4, 2019
• Sri Lanka launches major tourism drive in China July 3, 2019
• Chinese delegation calls on SLTPB for a visit to extend support to boost Tourism July 1, 2019
• Sri Lanka bags the award for the best performance at SITIF 2019 July 1, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism shines in Vistula Boulevards in Warsaw, Poland June 18, 2019
• Sri Lanka showcases its best at the Carnival of Cultures June 18, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism launches special promotional campaign in India June 13, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism; The Steady Road to Recovery May 28, 2019
• Career tourism professional has been appointed as the Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau May 27, 2019
• Thai Buddhist group, a beacon of blessings and hope May 23, 2019
• Social Media influencers and journalists show renewed interest in Sri Lanka May 14, 2019
• “Let us unite and work against global terrorism” - Sri Lanka Tourism addresses global media at ATM, Dubai May 3, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism begins destination brand recovery process April 30, 2019
• Sri Lanka tourism industry defiant after deadly attacks UAE welcomes Sri Lanka with open arms Sri Lanka sets its sight o April 30, 2019
• The visa on arrival programme on hold in response to security concerns April 26, 2019
• A statement from the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) CEO Senthil Gopinath on the recent events in April 26, 2019
• Creating awareness on Sri Lanka about the current situation (Q & A) April 26, 2019
• Statement from Sri Lanka Tourism (SLTDA and SLTPB) April 26, 2019
• Sri Lanka captures the hearts of Italians with eye catching promotions at BIT Travel Fair April 23, 2019
• About the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of CITES April 8, 2019
• Sri Lanka tantalises taste-buds at Taste of Dubai April 2, 2019
• Over 3000 tourists arrive onboard two cruise ships to Sri Lanka April 1, 2019
• First Ever Tourism Campaign in South Africa April 1, 2019
• “So Sri Lanka” branding promoted at IMM - Berlin March 11, 2019
• Sri Lanka Tourism unveils new documentary at ITB March 11, 2019
• ‘So Sri Lanka’ takes global media by storm March 11, 2019
• Marketing Drive by Sri Lanka Tourism at Thai International Travel Fair 2019 March 8, 2019
• Sri Lanka dazzles in the heart of Bollywood Once again March 8, 2019
• Global Instagram Titans join hands with Sri Lanka Tourism to get inspired by their global 22 million travel seeking foll March 6, 2019
• Spanish travelers enthralled by So Sri Lanka experience at FITUR Travel Fair, Spain 2019 February 20, 2019
• MS Queen Mary passenger cruise arrival 2019 February 18, 2019
• “So Sri Lanka” won the Best Decorated International Pavilion at the 26th PTAA Travel and Tour Expo 2019 – Manila, February 14, 2019
• Sri Lanka to take sports Tourism towards a new dimension February 11, 2019
• OTOAI to host annual convention in Sri Lanka February 7, 2019
• Sri Lanka, a must travel destination February 5, 2019
• Sri Lanka shows its prestige at the CMT Germany February 1, 2019
• Sri Lanka makes a successful participation at SATTE 2019 January 23, 2019
• Sri Lanka takes the Centre stage at Vakantiebeurs January 18, 2019
• Three cruise liners ferry in over 7000 tourists to Sri Lanka December 24, 2018
• Sri Lanka reach new heights in world luxury travel trade at ILTM Travel Fair, Cannes, France 2018 December 20, 2018
• Sri Lanka steals the spotlight at historical city of Izmir December 13, 2018
• Sri Lanka at Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens December 13, 2018
• CEAV congress ends on successful note December 12, 2018
• Sri Lanka shines at TT Warsaw November 29, 2018
• British film location managers scout for scenic spots November 28, 2018
• Situation Update November 19, 2018
• Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations for 2019 revealed November 12, 2018
• Sri Lanka attracts charter flights from Europe November 9, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism Welcomes Barmy Army November 9, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, launches Sri Lanka’s new destination brand “So Sri Lanka” November 9, 2018
• Legendary Vagabrothers geared up to take Sri Lanka to the world November 9, 2018
• Sri Lanka shines at JATA Tourism Expo 2018 in Japan October 25, 2018
• Enchanting Lanka Presented to French Media at Cercle de l'Union Interalliee Paris France October 17, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism gains momentum at 40th Anniversary Edition of IFTM TOP RESA Travel Fair 2018 in Paris France October 15, 2018
• Film Fare selects Sri Lanka to do the cover shoot of its November issue October 10, 2018
• Sri Lanka Strengthens ties with the Russian Counterparts October 10, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism makes inroads into Scandinavia October 8, 2018
• Sri Lanka recognized as Asia’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination September 13, 2018
• Roadshow Germany 2018 September 6, 2018
• Leisure and golf, a new tourism trend September 1, 2018
• SLTPB scales up tourist arrivals with roadshows August 31, 2018
• Discovering Sri Lanka’s lesser known attractions through the eyes of social media influencers August 17, 2018
• Sri Lanka beckons Indian travellers to its Ramayana Yathra August 3, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism bags the best performance award at KOFTA 2018 August 3, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism woos tourists from India August 1, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism carrying out multi-platform global campaigns June 28, 2018
• The Tourism Village at Kajugama - Bataleeya April 20, 2018
• Minister assures safety of tourists; tough action against errant establishments April 19, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism impacts French consumers at Salon Mondial Du Tourism (SMT) Travel Fair, Paris, France 2018 April 10, 2018
• Sri Lanka successfully participates for the first time at DTM 2018 April 10, 2018
• Underwater with Sri Lanka's sperm whales – in pictures April 6, 2018
• Sri Lanka strengthens its industrial ties with Singapore at NATA’s Travel Fair 2018 April 5, 2018
• Russian visitors impressed with Sri Lanka’s diversity April 2, 2018
• Sri Lanka to be the next uprising Paradise for Travel Influencers from around the Globe SLTPB Visiting Blogger Program g April 2, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism targets top source markets from Western Europe April 2, 2018
• Another feather added to Sri Lanka’s cap by the National Geographic March 23, 2018
• Update on current situation in Sri Lanka -Kandy returns to normalcy March 21, 2018
• SLTPB Visiting Blogger Program geared up for aggressive social media promotion in 2018 with World’s Top Travel influen March 19, 2018
• Sri Lanka successfully participates at the Jeddah International Travel & Tourism Exhibition (JTTX-8) 2018 & Road Show in March 16, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism rolls out effective media campaign at ITB 2018 March 15, 2018
• ITB is an excellent setting for B2B meetings March 15, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism aggressive on media & publicity @ ITB 2018 March 15, 2018
• Sri Lanka Shines at ITB Despite Kandy Blip March 15, 2018
• SRI LANKA PARTICIPATION at ASTINDO 2018 March 15, 2018
• Destinations - The Holiday and Travel Show– Event City Exhibition Centre 17th to 21st January 2018- Manchester February 26, 2018
• Holiday World Show 2018 in Dublin Ireland February 22, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism shines in the Mediterranean at the IMTM Travel Fair 2018 February 21, 2018
• Sri Lankan Consulate General in Dubai celebrates 70th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence and 25th year Anniversar February 21, 2018
• Sri Lanka targets approximately 450,000, Indian arrivals for the year 2018 February 14, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism sees Mumbai as a market for high growth February 8, 2018
• New dimension to promote Sri Lanka as a destination February 7, 2018
• Costa Neo Classica makes her first arrival on the dawn of 2018 January 29, 2018
• Sri Lanka recognised a preferred Film Destination for British Filmmakers January 3, 2018
• Best countries and cities to visit in 2018: The 18 places you should visit this year January 3, 2018
• Sri Lanka Tourism taps high-end Luxury French Travelers Participates at -ILTM Travel Fair in Cannes, France 2017 January 2, 2018
• Open Air Art Gallery December 22, 2017
• Iconic City Tour adds zest to Christmas Fest December 21, 2017
• Sri Lanka’s participation at the Winter Festival draws attention as an excellent family destination December 20, 2017
• Sri Lanka has been named as the most popular destination on Eurasia review December 20, 2017
• MS. Costa Neo Classica makes her second portof call to Sri Lanka December 15, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism concludes successful roadshows and food & cultural Event in Australia December 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism wins top award at E-Swabhimani Ceremony December 12, 2017
• TourismFest to Dazzle Colombo December 7, 2017
• Sri Lanka gets another feather in it’s cap as one of Asia’s most sought after travel destinations December 7, 2017
• “MS COSTA NEO CLASSICA” makes het debut arrival to Colombo Port on 5th December 2017 December 6, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism creates a global impact at the Family Traveller Awards November 28, 2017
• Travel Bloggers make Sri Lanka go viral on Social Media November 24, 2017
• The Family Traveller Awards 2017 reveals family-centric travel is booming November 24, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism strike an all-time high at IFTM TOP RESA 2017 Paris, France November 15, 2017
• “Ms MEIN SCHIFF 01” makes her debut arrival to Colombo Port on 13th November 2017 November 15, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, title sponsor of the prestigious, annual British Guild of Travel Writers Awards, Lon November 14, 2017
• Sri Lanka Targets Leading Middle Eastern Tour Operators November 13, 2017
• Colombo to have its first international shopping experience with the Colombo International Shopping Festival November 13, 2017
• World Tourism day – 2017 November 13, 2017
• Commemoration of National Coastal and Marine Resources Convocation Week 2017 (15th – 22nd Sep 2017) November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism makes inroads into Scandinavia November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka captures the attention of Gujaratis November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka’s Uniqueness attracts the Germans November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka taps leading Malaysian Tour operators November 13, 2017
• Roadshow in Germany held on 12 September 2017 in Cologne. November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka voted finalist for culture and Heritage Holiday Destination for UK Travel Awards November 13, 2017
• Developing connections through Culture and Heritage November 13, 2017
• Why Sri Lanka is the ultimate destination November 13, 2017
• Dengue Epidemic in Sri Lanka is successfully brought under control November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka poised as the next island paradise for International bloggers November 13, 2017
• Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) Kolkata inaugurated November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka crowned as "Asia’s Leading Destination" at World Travel Awards -2017 November 13, 2017
• Drowning prevention in Sri Lanka November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism shows its compassion towards elephants via training session at Pinnawala November 13, 2017
• Sri Lankan Culinary Delights Applauded by Israeli Holiday Makers November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka named Asia’s Leading Destination 2017 November 13, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism shows prestige at the ATM May 5, 2017
• PATA all set to kick off with their annual summit in Sri Lanka with a bang April 7, 2017
• Singapore To Share Digital Tourism Destination Marketing And Promotion Experience With The Democratic Socialist Republic April 4, 2017
• German Travel Association contemplates to host next AGM in Sri Lanka March 24, 2017
• Sri Lanka shows its colors at ITB Berlin 2017 March 16, 2017
• “A Journal of a Journey” at ITB 2017 March 16, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism bags Most Popular Destination Award at GTIF 2017 March 14, 2017
• Sri Lanka captures Bollywood – Sri Lanka to become a favourite location for Indian films March 10, 2017
• Strengthening cultural and religious ties March 9, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism all set to be profoundly aggressive at ITB Berlin 2017 March 9, 2017
• Sri Lanka goes around the world with "Eclectic Presse" March 7, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism Conducts Roadshow in Mumbai March 6, 2017
• Sri Lanka shines at SATTE Exhibition in New Delhi March 2, 2017
• Two graceful beauties take Sri Lanka to greater heights February 23, 2017
• Why is Sri Lanka becoming the most fashionable place to travel February 22, 2017
• Sri Lankans in New York - Sri Lanka shows its colors in New York February 17, 2017
• Sri Lanka wows the Mediterranean again at the Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition February 17, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism conquers the Mediterranean at the IMTM Travel Fair 2017 February 16, 2017
• Australia lowers travel advisory for Sri Lanka February 14, 2017
• Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai celebrates 69th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Sri Lanka in grand style February 14, 2017
• United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration 2017 February 14, 2017
• Sri Lanka woos Middle East market at IMTM February 8, 2017
• Sri Lanka - An Island for all Seasons for the wider Latin American Market FITUR, Madrid 2017 January 23, 2017
• Top tourism professional to promote Sri Lanka in Europe January 20, 2017
• Sri Lanka Tourism creates a hallmark at the Vakantiebeurs 2017 January 20, 2017
• German TV crew set to take the Sri Lankan pride to the world January 20, 2017
• 55th visit to Sri Lanka – An amazing land mark to achieve January 17, 2017
• The hottest hotels opening in 2017: From Iceland to India January 6, 2017
• Readers' Choice January 6, 2017
• Where to Go in 2017 January 6, 2017
• The 10 Hottest Travel Destinations of 2017 January 3, 2017
• Tourism Fest concludes becoming a major crowd puller December 29, 2016
• PM kicks off Christmas cheer December 22, 2016
• Sri Lankan spirit showcased in Malaysia December 16, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism kicks off an underground campaign in UK Train Stations December 5, 2016
• TT WARSAW – International Travel Show 24 – 26 Nov., 2016 – Warsaw, Poland November 30, 2016
• Business Today interview with Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Mr.Paddy Withana November 25, 2016
• Tourism Fest To Dazzle Colombo November 24, 2016
• Sri Lanka wins ‘’ Best Destination of the Beaten Track ‘’ at the Conde Nast Traveler Middle East Readers ‘Choi November 16, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism brings all smiles to a rural school in Habarana November 15, 2016
• Road Shows in Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary on 14th, 16th and 19th Sept., 2016 November 11, 2016
• TTG Incontri Travel Fair A 3 day workshop for Tourism Professionals Rimini, Italy - 13th – 15th Oct., 2016 November 11, 2016
• Sri Lanka shines in UK in WTM November 10, 2016
• Mr. Sutheash Balasubramaniam appointed as new Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) November 10, 2016
• WTM 2016 : Elite Traveler Recommends the Best of Sri Lanka November 10, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism has been added to the Worldwide Destination Guide November 9, 2016
• Ukraine International Airlines Launches Services To Colombo November 9, 2016
• Congres des Entrepreneurs du Voyage (JEV) bringing Two nations together November 8, 2016
• Oman Travel Agents get a glimpse of Sri Lankan prestige November 7, 2016
• SriLanka Tourism Chairman top priorities are its people, environment, wildlife, culture November 4, 2016
• Sri Lanka to host French Travel agents’ JEV Congress 2016 November 4, 2016
• Inaugural Concert of Sri Lankan Cultural Dancing Shows October 28, 2016
• Sri Lanka Nation Brand records 9% growth in 2016 October 27, 2016
• Sri Lanka wows the Sakura Land at the JATA Tourism Expo at Tokyo Big Sight October 21, 2016
• Sri Lanka featured as a world tourism hotspot at IFTM Top Resa Travel Fair in Paris, France -2016 October 21, 2016
• Sri Lanka to shows prestige in crafts work in India October 17, 2016
• German Tour operators experience the Sri Lankan splendor on Familiarization Tours October 17, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism shows local prestige at the OTDYKH Travel Market October 17, 2016
• The Sri Lankan flag flies high in Eastern Europe Road Shows in Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary October 14, 2016
• Sri Lanka makes inroads in Nordic countries October 14, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism all set to participate in UK trade road show October 14, 2016
• Familiarization Tour for Key Tour Operators from Germany October 11, 2016
• Strengthening friendships between neighbors to boost the tourism sector September 20, 2016
• Sri Lanka adds color to Kualalumpur at MATTA 2016 September 15, 2016
• Travel bloggers embark on a journey to discover food and adventure in Sri Lanka September 8, 2016
• SLTPB kick-starts Nordic roadshow with success September 7, 2016
• Familiarization Tour of Sri Lanka by Thai Travel Agents September 2, 2016
• Capturing the special moments of the train ride arranged for UNWTO delegates September 2, 2016
• International travel writers, bloggers and electronic media to cover Kandy Perehera September 2, 2016
• 35 Photos that will make you want to travel Sri Lanka August 19, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau organized its first Road Show in Singapore August 1, 2016
• Legendary Ramayana epic will be expected to uplift Indian tourists’ arrival during the period of upcoming Dewali July 26, 2016
• Nuwara Eliya To Host World's Oldest Golf Tournament July 25, 2016
• FAM Tour organized by SLTPB in collaboration with Air India for local press July 18, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism won a couple of awards at the 31st Korea World Travel Fair(KOTFA 2016)-South Korea. July 4, 2016
• Conde Nast Traveler named Sigiriya as one The 50 Most Beautiful Places in Asia June 27, 2016
• The hottest hotels in Asia and Australia June 21, 2016
• Seoul Grand Park held the event 'Culture Day with elephants.' June 16, 2016
• The Road Show of Sri Lanka Tourism. June 14, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau focused to promote Buddhist tourism in Thailand June 10, 2016
• SL Tourism at Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE - 2016) June 9, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism has geared up its Visiting Journalist Program to promote Destination Sri Lanka in uprising markets June 6, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion during the Pearl Fishers Opera at the Art Centre in Melbourne on 28th May 2016 June 6, 2016
• Sri lanka Roadshows toast success in Sydney June 1, 2016
• Tea Kiosk at the Bandaranaike International Airport to celebrate Golden Jubilee of Sri Lanka Tourism. June 1, 2016
• Asian & Oceanian Championship 2016 starts in Trincomalee May 31, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism celebrates its Golden Jubilee on 27th May 2016 in Colombo May 24, 2016
• Department of Economics, University of Colombo wins Best IFITTtalk 2015 May 24, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism launches its Road show promotions from Melbourne May 23, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism takes on Brisbane, Australia May 23, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism promotes the island as an ideal film destination at Cannes Film Festival May 19, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism arrives its 50th year May 12, 2016
• Visit of Mr. Suniel Shetty May 12, 2016
• Buddha Rashmi National Vesak Festival 2016 May 12, 2016
• ATM 2016 – SRI LANKA targets high end tourists from Middle East May 12, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism at ATM May 12, 2016
• A unique tea garden to create a value added experience to the tourists during nuwara eliya season May 12, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Mobile Service Goes Online April 18, 2016
• Traditional Avurudu experience at Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Colombo April 12, 2016
• Sri Lanka at Seatrade Cruise Global 2016, Fort Lauderdale, USA April 7, 2016
• COLOMBO SAESM 2015 April 5, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism creates waves in the Russia’s No.1 Travel and Tourism Exhibition - MITT in Moscow March 30, 2016
• Tourism Road Show events to promote Sri Lanka to industry stakeholders of the Benelux region March 30, 2016
• Sri Lanka has released an aggressive island promotion campaign at the beginning of 2016 to attract more French Tourists March 30, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion during the Pearl Fishers Opera at the Opera House in Sydney March 30, 2016
• Tourist Information Counter on board “MS Amsterdam” March 24, 2016
• ITB Spark!!! - Sri Lanka Tourism shines at ITB Berlin 2016 March 23, 2016
• Beeralu lace- handicrafts - Sri Lanka Tourism at London Asia House Design 2016 March 21, 2016
• The “Colombo Bike Week” to boost recreational tourism March 21, 2016
• Quest means Business in Sri Lanka March 21, 2016
• Hon. Ms Iris Gleicke, the State Secretary visits the Sri Lanka stand at ITB March 11, 2016
• Press conference – ITB 2016 March 11, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism hits a high note at the Opening ceremony at ITB Berlin 2016 March 11, 2016
• Sri Lanka wins the most popular destination at Tourism at Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF) 2016 March 10, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism at Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) , Mumbai 2016 March 9, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism at ITB Berlin (9-13th March 2016) March 9, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism targets Finland market by Participating at MATKA Nordic Travel Fair 2016 in Helsinki, Finland February 25, 2016
• The Young Leaders of the Economic Forum on a journey of Culture and Heritage with Sri Lanka Tourism February 25, 2016
• Taking cultural and religious parades of Sri Lanka to the world February 25, 2016
• Launching a Logo to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Tourism February 24, 2016
• Fox News (USA) recommend Destination Sri Lanka February 8, 2016
• TripAdvisor looks forward sustainable tourism Conference on Global Travel Insights February 3, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism attracts flourishing number of foreign spectators to 2016 Duruthu Perahera February 3, 2016
• South Asia’s very first Blood Ivory Destruction Event February 2, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism links with CITES and industry stakeholders to promote Responsible Wildlife Tourism January 28, 2016
• Sri Lanka Tourism begins the new year 2016, by investing on a lucrative promotional campaign to shine in South Korea January 14, 2016
• ‘Destination Sri Lanka’ at Vakantiebeurs 2016 January 14, 2016
• Dream Trips 2016 recognises “The World's most extraordinary places to add to your travel wish list” January 5, 2016
• Sri LankaTourism poised for sustainable growth... December 31, 2015
• MALINDO AIR LAUNCHES DAILY KL-COLOMBO ROUTE December 30, 2015
• THE NEW YORK POST REVEALS THE TOP HOTELS TO VISIT IN 2016 December 25, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism To Take-off Seasonal Celebrations at the Arcade Independence Square December 15, 2015
• The Kingsbury wins World Luxury Hotel Award November 18, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism showcases at World Travel Mart London with 64 Industry Partners November 6, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism comes board for ITB Asia 2015 Travel Show November 6, 2015
• Austrian Airlines inaugurate flights to Sri Lanka .. November 3, 2015
• Sri Lanka wins hosting French Travel Agents Congress (SNAV) 2016 October 30, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism showcase “One Island, Thousand Treasures” at IFTM Travel Fair Paris , France 2015 …. October 16, 2015
• Tourism Receipts touch $2.1 billion as at end September 2015 October 11, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism launches Community Aid Tourism with Olympic Gold medallion October 9, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism must focus on Asian Tourism as arrivals reach 45% October 8, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism with Pink my Tuk Tuk launch Global Online video competition October 7, 2015
• Scandinavian markets grow by 32%: Sri Lanka Tourism focussed marketing drive October 7, 2015
• Tourism Record in September: arrivals jump 35.9% to cross 1.3 million October 7, 2015
• Elephant Reach Crowned "Best Wildlife Resort" by Lonely Planet Magazine October 5, 2015
• Sri Lanka ride the wave at Japan Tourism Expo 2015 September 30, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism celebrate 'World Tourism Day' to upgrade industry competitiveness September 29, 2015
• The 1st ever Cruise Tourism Marketing Plan presented to the New Tourism Minister September 29, 2015
• Sri Lanka focus on South Korea's 14 million outbound market September 28, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism French Marketing blitz launched September 28, 2015
• World Tourism Day 2015- Sri Lanka Tourism & Colombo University MOU to be inked September 28, 2015
• Sri Lanka - Cultural focus country at Key Italian Travel Fair TTG September 21, 2015
• No 1 GLOBAL SOURCE MARKET: Sri Lanka Tourism launch multi city Road show in Germany September 21, 2015
• Miss England plants the 500,000th in the One Million Tree Story Project September 21, 2015
• Mr and Miss UK commends Sri Lanka- Destination of the Year title: September 17, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to highlight the 1706th Esala Perahera at Japan JATA World Expo 2015 September 17, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism show at World Scouts Jamboree - Japan September 15, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism take Guinness attempt globally from Russia September 15, 2015
• SRI LANKA CHALLENGED September 15, 2015
• Sri Lanka win the ' Best Stall' - China Xi'an Silk Road Tourism Expo 2015 September 15, 2015
• UK's best selling newspaper picks Sri Lanka- Destination of the year September 12, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism enter China's growing religious tourism business September 3, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism focus on a Indian niche market- IAS officers September 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka passes the Guinness Record for largest Tea Party in Kandy August 31, 2015
• Sri Lanka tourism to auction Ceylon Sapphire at Scandinavia TUR Travel Fair August 31, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism, Tea board and Sri Lankan Airlines quest for Guinness Record August 24, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism focussing on the $92 billion German source market August 24, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism blitz on Sony Six for Sanga Farewell August 21, 2015
• $16.4 million "Monkey Kingdom" launched today in Sri Lanka August 20, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to take Tea theme at World Travel Mart London 2015 August 19, 2015
• SL Tourism Launch Global Online Video Competition for 365 days holiday August 18, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism selects 8 American kids for tour of “Monkey Kingdom Trail" August 18, 2015
• Sports Tourism is worth $600 billion and Sri Lanka enters with Golf and Surfing August 18, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to make cruise segment a top 5 earner for Sri Lanka August 14, 2015
• Sri Lanka makes inroad to Indian religious tourism market August 10, 2015
• China as the tops Tourism arrivals in July crossing 25,000 visitors at +65.5% August 10, 2015
• We have to attract the $250 tourist, let's not just chase visitor arrivals August 5, 2015
• Whilst Tea brews for Sri Lanka Tourism - arrivals cross 1 million by July 2015 August 5, 2015
• Sri Lanka Focus On The US$ 2 Billion Whale Watching Bussiness July 31, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism presents Trinco comes alive ! July 30, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism targeting 75,000 travellers from Australia July 28, 2015
• Half Year Tourism earning at $1.3bn - Informal sector continues to drive tourist arrivals July 27, 2015
• “Expo 2015 secure a 53 million Sapphire order for Sri Lanka” - Commissioner General Sri Lanka 2015 July 27, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism launch strong marketing campaign in India July 21, 2015
• Two Sri Lanka Tourism Board members win Outstanding Achievement awards July 14, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to launch Monkey Kingdom in China July 9, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism search for Top Global Ad agency July 6, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism takes high ground on $40bn Silk Road initiative - Qingdao July 2, 2015
• Sri Lanka wins Best Tourism Pavilion at Beijing International travel Fair !! June 29, 2015
• Tourism Informal sector touching 50% at 7.3mn Guest Nights June 29, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism beat 52 countries to win top award at Global Travel Fair- KOTFA June 25, 2015
• Tourism Promotions Bureau Depoliticized - will work strongly with private sector ! June 24, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism- Air India tap into Trade Tourism June 24, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to drive Niche Markets in South Korea June 16, 2015
• MISS EARTH ON BOARD THE COLOMBO CITY TOUR June 16, 2015
• Sri Lanka focus on the key market - South Korea worth 14 million travellers June 16, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism - Korean Air joint promotions in South Korean market June 15, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism strengthens ties with Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2015
• University of Sri Jayewardenepura to be the think tank for Sri Lanka Tourism June 9, 2015
• Sri Lanka pavilion at Expo Milano cross 30,000 + visitors! June 8, 2015
• Miss Earth visits Sri Lanka Tourism whilst earnings touch $1billion by April 2015 June 8, 2015
• Miss Earth commends Colombo as top fastest growing tourist cities of 2015 June 8, 2015
• Sri Lanka in a Guinness Record Initiative June 3, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism launch 200 million new brand building strategy June 3, 2015
• 1st time -SL Tourism in Global Cruise push in Busan Korea. June 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism practice nation brand building pillar support May 26, 2015
• Expo Milano 2015: Global Endorsement for Sri Lanka May 25, 2015
• 14,270 visitors experience Sri Lankan treasures - Expo 2015 May 20, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism in joint promotion talks with Tourism Maldives May 19, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism- One Island, thousand treasures May 19, 2015
• Sri Lankan Disney Film cross $14.3 million ticket sales in US May 18, 2015
• Grow without hurting the Environment – Sri Lanka ranked low at 103 May 18, 2015
• Private sector thumps up for Tourism strategy May 15, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism wins Global award at Tourism Expo China May 11, 2015
• Sri Lanka - one of the top stalls at Arabian Travel Fair as arrivals surge by 16.4% May 8, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism launch focussed Marketing plan for Italy after a lapse of 2 years May 7, 2015
• $1.3 million charter from Italy - 1st win from Expo 2015 !! May 6, 2015
• Nation Brand building merges to destination marketing in today's digital age May 6, 2015
• Expo 2015 launched: Sri Lanka to connect stronger to the west May 6, 2015
• Chairman unite to power Brand Sri Lanka on a ROI model April 30, 2015
• China offers Sichuan province World Tourism Fair Free for Sri Lanka April 28, 2015
• Sri Lanka to focus on the $2 billion whale watching business April 23, 2015
• Sri Lanka Cruise Tourism doubles - Global Marketing push locked April 22, 2015
• ME grow by 20.1% in Q1- SL Tourism target Riyadh April 22, 2015
• Sri Lanka tea board and Sri Lanka tourism partnership working globally April 21, 2015
• UK grows by 14.8in Q1 - SL Tourism in marketing blitz in Birmingham April 21, 2015
• 441 Australians cruise travelers visit Pinnawala April 21, 2015
• Expo 2015 attracts 200 top SL private sector entities April 21, 2015
• ‘MONKEY KINGDOM’- Sri Lanka in Disney’s Spotlight in the US April 8, 2015
• Carles Puyol attracts 1 million views to Sri Lanka April 7, 2015
• Focussed marketing plan launched for China as arrivals sore by 84.5% April 7, 2015
• Tourist arrivals grow by 18% in March and 1st quarter by 13.6% April 7, 2015
• Sri Lanka exports revving for this year’s historic Milano blitz April 7, 2015
• Lanka’s brand value to reach US$ 79 b in 2015 April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism tie up with National Craft Council for Global Promotions April 1, 2015
• MOU with CCTV mooted by Minister of Tourism April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism Strategy - China 2015 launched with private sector April 1, 2015
• Russia – Sri Lanka Tourism does focussed brand building April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Unites – Expo Milano 2015 April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism enters the $40 bn Cruiseline business April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism becomes top 4 at Global Tourism show April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to focus on Swedish Market with Scene based Marketing April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka tea board and Sri Lanka tourism partnership working globally April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to invest Rs.1.2 bn only on trade fairs globally April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism includes Scandinavian countries in focus market drive April 1, 2015
• Sri lanka tourism taps high potential czech republic market April 1, 2015
• Sri Lanka launches new product - Ramanya Trail April 1, 2015
• Recreation Tourism - a new trend globally March 23, 2015
• Tourism "Celebrate Colombo" with Amazing Rides at CFW 2015 March 23, 2015
• Sri Lanka tea board and Sri Lanka tourism partnership working at ITB March 23, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism and Sri Lankan air lines tie up at ITB March 23, 2015
• After 10 years the Tourism hierarchy at ITB March 23, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism to "Celebrate Colombo" at CFW 2015 March 23, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism win at GITF China March 23, 2015
• Sustainability is a way of life for Sri Lanka - Navin March 23, 2015
• German Governemt supports the New government vision March 23, 2015
• New Sri Lanka tourism chief, new spirits- launches new business model March 23, 2015
• “Positive Transformation” - Sri Lanka's theme at ITB 2015 March 8, 2015
• The rescue mission of Dutch couple tells the world how much we care for Foreign Guest March 8, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism and Tea Board in a Rs.1bn tie up March 8, 2015
• UK travellers to woo Sri Lanka as a Weddings & Honeymoons destination March 2, 2015
• Sri Lanka Tourism gathers momentum at key Italian Travel Fair February 26, 2015
• One Million Trees Project February 21, 2015
• Marketing Sri Lanka via Film Tourism February 18, 2015

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), under The Ministry of Tourism and Lands welcomed World's Top Travel Influencer Nusier Yassin also known as ''Nas Daily'’ to promote Sri Lanka as One of Best Travel Destinations in The World to Travel. As part of this exclusive social media-based campaign with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Nas Daily social platforms where they have over 67 million followers base worldwide, will be posting various destination promotional posts, videos and stories to inspire social media savvy global travelers visit Sri Lanka within upcoming seasons.

Making a statement on Sri Lanka Tourism’s collaboration with Nas Daily, Minister for Tourism and Lands Mr. Harin Fernado stated, key focus of this campaign is to promote destination Sri Lanka via mainstream social media platforms by reaching out to millions of international social media users and creating an excitement and influencing to visit the island within upcoming seasons. Also, this campaign expects to create multiple unique reasons to visit destination Sri Lanka and encourage travelers to come back for more.

Living in the era of digital media, travel influencers have emerged as powerful storytellers by inspiring billions of social media users around the world. Unlike traditional advertising campaigns, influencers marketing campaigns have become a game-changing strategy for destination promotions. Influencers create greater impact on inspiring modern-day travelers by acting as Digital Word of Mouth, while generating long lasting publicity for destinations. Their genuine and personal social media channels provide insights that traditional advertisements can’t replicate, making them a trusted source for travel recommendations. Having average of 500 million views combinedly on social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Tik Tok) Nas Daily reaching up to 3.2 % of global population with 20 billion video impressions and generate 100 % organic views for their creative content. Nas Daily -social media content focused on incredible people, amazing places, unique inventions and impactful initiatives. Nas Daily platforms have over 67 million followers from worldwide. While maintaining over 30 + localize social media channels in different international languages, Nas Daily engage with vast diversity of social media users around the world, including: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, Turkey, Thai, etc. Having such a massive global follower base with major focus on segments such as travel, cultural exploration, current affairs and ability in reaching out to geographically diverse regions with different languages and cultures make Nas Daily is exceptional and stand out of all the other social media influencers in the world.

As part of the destination campaign with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Nas Daily will be creating three unique tourism & related investment focused videos about Sri Lanka along with multiple other social media posts and stories. Over the 4 days compact filming schedule in Sri Lanka SLTPB’s International Media Team has taken Nas Daily Filming Crew to areas covering, Tea Plantations in Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Galle, Hikkaduwa and Colombo. This campaign expects to generate a massive global attention towards Sri Lanka, by highlighting the country as a ‘’Must Visit Destination in The World’. Visiting The Island for the 5 th time, Nuseir Yassin stated that ‘’Sri Lanka is like my second home. I had a great time here in Sri Lanka and definitely coming back for more’’. On his last day in Sri Lanka, Fans’ Meet & Greet was organized at the BMICH and over 500 die-hearted Nas Daily fans were appeared in the afternoon to meet Nuseir Yassin with gifts and Sri Lankan flags. Chairman SLTPB, Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu stated that ‘bringing Nas Daily to Sri Lanka is a great achievement for us on 2023 and this campaign expect a greater promotional milage to our tourism industry as well as to the island as an immediate outcome. This is a part of our integrated tourism promotional campaign where digital media will be paying a grater role by addressing to millions potential travelers in the world’’.

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Sri Lanka eyes tourism boom in 2024 via slick ads, digital nomads

India-Maldives spat offers new chance to build on last year's promising results

COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka is crafting a new tourism strategy, aiming to build on a promising 2023 by honing its advertising message, wooing digital nomads and raising per-traveler revenue. It may even have a chance to capitalize on shifting geopolitical winds amid tensions between neighboring India and the Maldives.

The South Asian island welcomed over 1.48 million visitors last year -- roughly double that of 2022, when the country defaulted on sovereign debt, suffered severe shortages and saw protests topple the government. Buoyed by glowing tourism features in international magazines like Forbes and Conde Nast Traveler, the country is hoping for at least 2.3 million in 2024.

Sri Lanka aims to transform tourism

Maldives president meets xi, woos chinese tourists amid india spat, hiking sri lanka's tea trail, sri lanka is back in business, how music rocked sri lanka's ruling class, latest on travel & leisure, china allows visa-free entry for cruise ship passengers, japan sees less domestic golden week travelers amid inflation, tokyo disney aims to keep magic alive with new 'frozen,' 'peter pan' areas, sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

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Reopening Updates

Covid Tests Requirements

Sri Lanka lifts the mandatory requirement of  the Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate to enter the country. The Director General of Health Services said that the requirement to produce a pre-boarding or on-arrival negative COVID-19 test (PCR/RAT) by any person arriving in Sri Lanka via any airport or seaport is no longer required.  Read more here  News First   (update December 7, 2022)

Reopening Sri Lanka for Tourism Updated on 07th September 2021

Travel and Re-entry Rules to/from Sri Lanka for Selected Countries

Sri lanka travel advisory info for incoming foreign nationals, traveling under the sri lanka tourism bio-bubble system.

Updated on 29th March 2021

Procedures for International Travellers Arriving in Sri Lanka Foreign Travellers can holiday in selected certified hotels under Sri Lanka Tourism’s Safe & Secure program. Visit www.srilanka.travel/helloagain/ for details of the wide selection of available hotels. Tourists can use all facilities of the hotel and visit specified popular tourist sites, however, they are not permitted to mix with the local community until a specified number of days have elapsed. Travellers can move between multiple certified hotels. All travellers need to have a negative PCR report when arriving in Sri Lanka. Travellers will be subject to two PCR tests during the certified hotel stay period. Fully Vaccinated Travellers – Seven Day Stay in Certified Hotel

• All doses of the relevant vaccine should have been received two weeks prior to arrival in Sri Lanka.
• Proof of vaccination – travellers are required to produce an original vaccination certificate and a verified copy translated into English (if it is not in English) to the airport health officer.
• PCR testing will be as follows – one test within 24-hours of arrival and one test on the seventh day.
• If the traveller has received all relevant doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and has negative PCR reports from tests conducted on days one and seven, they are free to interact with the local community and stay at any establishment, whether certified or not.

Non-Vaccinated Travellers – 14 Day Stay in Certified Hotel

• If the traveller has not received the COVID-19 vaccine, or has received the vaccine less than two weeks prior to arrival, they are required to stay In a certified hotel for 14 days.
• PCR testing will be as follows – one test within 24-hours of arrival and one test prior to departure from the country or prior to departure from the certified hotel on the 14th day (whichever comes first).
• If the traveller receives a negative PCR report on the 14th day, they are free to interact with the local community once they leave the certified hotel.

Source: Economy Next

Updated on 18th January 2021

As Sri Lanka prepares to reopen the country for tourism in January, here’s everything you need to know to be ready.It is mandatory for hotels to provide confirmed booking number (reference number) only after collecting funds for necessary PCR tests ($40 per PCR test and number of PCR tests depends on the duration of the stay) and insurance premium of $12 for a cover of $50,000 for one month.Following are the instructions you would need to give international tourists planning to visit Sri Lanka.

• It is mandatory to have a confirmed hotel booking in a Certified Safe & Secure Level 1 hotel/s prior to applying for a Tourist Visa (visit www.srilanka.travel/helloagain for details of Certified Safe & Secure Level 1 hotel).
• Obtain a confirmed hotel booking in a Safe and Secure Level 1 hotel.
• When making a hotel booking, pay for the PCR tests (USD 40 per test, per person, depending on the number of days of stay) and USD 12 for COVID-19 Insurance for one month. Visit www.srilanka.travel/helloagain for details.
• Once you pay for your insurance and PCR tests, and have a pre confirmed hotel booking at a Certified Safe & Secure Level 1 hotel, the traveller will be issued a reference number by the hotel. This reference number is mandatory for visa processing. Once the traveller receives the reference number, they can apply for the visa.
• Apply for visa online at www.eta.gov.lk . On the online visa application, in the place where you are required to fill in the contact details in Sri Lanka, please indicate the hotel name and confirmed booking reference number.

Source: Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Health & Safety Etiquette for Hotels and Accommodation Providers – Download Things you need to know when preparing to welcome visitors (Tour Guides) – Download Things you need to know when prepping for your visit (Travellers) – Download FAQ – Download More information can be found here . Source – Sri Lanka Tourism

Updated on 12th October 2020

Sri Lanka currently has no confirmed date for resuming tourism. Authorities are closely monitoring the on-ground situation and will make a decision as soon as they are able to. This space will be updated with new information whenever it is available.

At this point, local authorities have concluded that:

· Once Sri Lanka opens for tourism, citizens of all nations will be welcome.

· Comprehensive testing protocols will be followed prior to boarding a flight to Sri Lanka and upon entering the country.

· Guests will be required to visit the country for a minimum two week period, and stay at a single certified hotel.

· Guests who wish to remain in Sri Lanka for a longer period will be required to stay at a single certified hotel for a minimum 21 days prior to being able to travel around the island and stay at other certified hotels.

· Hotels that are open to foreign guests will not be permitted to welcome local guests at the same time, in order to minimise social interaction.

· Guests will not be permitted to leave the hotel premises during the mandatory 14 day or 21 day periods. They are welcome to move freely around the hotel premises and utilise all hotel facilities during this time.

· Guests will be required to download a mandatory software application when applying for an e-visa to Sri Lanka. This app will enable contact tracing in the event it is required for health and safety purposes.

· Guests will be required to pay a value of USD 35 as visa fees, and an additional USD 110 to cover costs of PCR testing and mandatory medical/COVID-19 insurance.

· In the event a guest tests positive for COVID-19, they will be treated at the KDU University Hospital.

Updated on 22nd September 2020

Update from the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance : click here to view.

Updated on 29th June 2020

Tourism Alliance Take on Reopening of Airport for Tourism

Although August 1st was announced for tourist arrivals to resume, it is now pushed back by a month or so (date expected to be announced mid-July) as a cautionary measure to protect Sri Lanka’s competent handling of the pandemic, with just 11 deaths and no community transmission for the last two months.

The upsurge of cases globally and a number of Sri Lankans returning from overseas and testing positive (and quarantined immediately), has alarmed authorities. The opening for tourism has hence been pushed back, to also buy time to enhance capacity for testing on arrival.

Sri Lanka Tourism has published a comprehensive protocol which hotels will be certified for. Domestic tourism resumed at the beginning of June.

Update from THASL – June 2020

Sri Lanka Tourism issued an update on 06th June 2020 with opening guidelines

Who can visit.

All nationalities are welcome and all types of travellers whether groups, families, individuals.

Which airports will operate?

Bandaranaike International Airport [BIA], Colombo Ratmalana Airport [RMA] and Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport [MRIA] will be operating for tourist arrivals from Aug 1, 2020.

What are the visa procedures?

• All travelers will require a valid visa; this will be issued for 30 days and extendable for upto 6 months after arrival. Online visa at http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/
• Further relaxation for long stay guests is currently under consideration, enabling tourist to be granted five-year multiple entry visas with maximum 6 months stay.
• Visa fee US$100

Information required for visa application

• Booking details at Certified Accommodation
• Itinerary in Sri Lanka
• Return ticket
• Proof of medical insurance

Where can I stay and is there a minimum duration?

• A minimum 5-night stay in Sri Lanka is required.
• Independent professional audits will be done to certify accommodation providers who will be listed on the Sri Lanka tourism website. Details of bookings made with Certified Accommodation providers are required for the visa application.

Pre-departure COVID-19 PCR testing

A negative PCR test is required prior to boarding your flight and on arrival in Sri Lanka. The test should be no older than 72 hours prior to boarding.

On arrival in Sri Lanka

The airport will have high intensity sanitation measures in place for all areas and staff.

• There is no quarantine on arrival unless symptoms are detected.
• A PCR test would be done on arrival at the airport. No charge.
• Currently it takes 24 hours to receive the test results. We are making changes to have results within 4-6 hours by August. In the event it is required to wait 24 hours for test results; you will be able to select a hotel for a one-night stay from Certified 4 or 5-star hotels in Colombo or Negombo until the test results are received.
• A further test will be done 4-5 days after arrival by a mobile unit in coordination with your Certified Accommodation provider.
• Travelers staying for more than 10 days will be required to take a third test during their stay. While this may be inconvenient it is essential to safeguard everybody and provide peace of mind.
• In case of a positive PCR result, quarantine in a designated hotel or hospitalisation will take place depending on the details of the case. Quarantine would usually be 14 to 21 days if symptoms are detected.

Moving around Sri Lanka

• To ensure your safety, please arrange transportation prior to your arrival, with your Certified Accommodation provider or travel agent. Public transport should not be used.
• All tourist sites will be open from 1st August onwards with safety protocols and measures in place to ensure the wellbeing of our travelers.
• There will be no travel restrictions between districts for tourists.

What is Sri Lanka’s status with COVID-19?

Being an island, and thanks to the proactive measures taken, Sri Lanka has been able to manage the spread of the virus. No active community clusters have been detected in the last 30 days within the country.

Alliance Take:

Although appearing inconvenient, there needed to be much negotiation with the health authorities to get the opening date approved. Practically, nearer the time, there will likely be improvements to the process. It is unlikely that tourists will rush in immediately Aug 1, but technically Sri Lanka is open, so travellers can start planning to come later. It sends the signal that we are safe to travel to, even if we may appear obsessed that travellers may have the virus.

We understand that the airport is planning to acquire high speed machines to reduce the test result wait time to 4-5 hours. We believe that travellers will also want the comfort (when planning a holiday) of knowing that the destination is being stringent at the outset in order to protect hard-won gains, with only 11 deaths and 300 locally transmitted cases. We understand that in some countries getting tested when asymptomatic is not possible, so an on arrival test may suffice, as is the procedure in some other destinations such as Alaska.

Updated on 06th June 2020

COVID-19 Status

Number of cases.

Imported cases – 605

Local cases

• Navy cluster 883
• Local transmission 313

Total cases – 1801

Recovered – 891

Active – 899

Deaths – 11

Last community transmission – 30th April 2020

Source: Ministry of Health

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Sri Lanka Launches First Global Tourism Campaign in 16 Years

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

December 7th, 2023 at 2:58 AM EST

Sri Lanka has finally announced its plans to roll out its global tourism marketing campaign urging tourists “You’ll Come Back For More,” marking the first such campaign since 2007.  

Skift had earlier highlighted the country’s 16-year gap in robust tourism promotion. The country had developed a comprehensive consumer campaign in 2021, which had then been shelved.

The new campaign is set to unfold in phases, initially focusing on communicating the restoration of stability in the country and its readiness to welcome tourists, this will run through February. Subsequent stages will elaborate on the central theme of “You’ll come back for more,” targeting key source markets of Sri Lanka Tourism.

Ogilvy, the creative agency behind the campaign, based its strategy on insights revealing that over 30% of tourists visiting Sri Lanka are repeat travelers.

The government has also urged the private sector to play a pivotal role in attracting tourists, with Tourism Minister Harin Fernando emphasizing that the government’s responsibility was restricted to ensure an enabling environment.

Tourism Targets

This year’s target for tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka is 1.5 million, a goal viewed by some as modest given the destination’s capacity and potential.

According to the latest tourism data, Sri Lanka had welcomed 1.3 million tourists by November, with India leading as the largest contributor with almost 260,000 arrivals, followed by Russia with 168,000 tourists.

The country plans to welcome 2.5 million tourists next year.

Free Tourist Visas

As part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate the tourism sector and achieve a target of 5 million arrivals by 2026, Sri Lanka announced issuing free tourist visas until March for visitors from seven countries — India, China, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The backdrop to these efforts includes last year’s wave of anti-government protests, beginning in April, triggered by severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicines. The country declared a s tate of emergency, facing what is considered its most significant economic crisis.

Tags: asia monthly , economic recovery , marketing , sri lanka , tourism campaigns , visa waiver

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Emirates inks strategic tourism agreement with Sri Lanka

Now in its 38th year of operating in Sri Lanka, Emirates will continue its efforts to support the island nation’s tourism agenda, including the development of special packages designed to appeal to a broader set of audiences and familiarisation trips from key feeder markets.

As part of its broader efforts to support the Indian Ocean nation, Emirates will also engage closely with travel agents and tour operators in key strategic markets to help showcase the destination’s offerings to destination’s its global network.

Ahmed Khoory said: “Sri Lanka is one of the very” first destinations Emirates launched operations to, so our 38-year relationship with the country is one we take special pride in.  We remain committed to deepening our relationship, playing a pivotal role in promoting Sri Lanka as a key leisure destination in our network, and contributing to the tourism and trade sectors through our passenger and cargo services.”

Emirates launched its services to Sri Lanka in 1986 and currently operates two direct daily flights to Colombo utilising the Boeing 777-300ER and an additional daily service via Male. It is the only international carrier to serve the country with first-class services. (Colombo Gazette)

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16 May 2024 - 1     - 494

Family is the first essential cell of human society

Families stay together if they regularly pray or meditate together. This is a hallowed philosophy that goes a long way to show that good families make good societies and countries. We need to see unity in diversity in families with none dominating or having his/her way. Family members need to be sacrificial and forgiving, embodying values of love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, humility, gentleness and meekness. Some believe the husband is the h

16 May 2024 - 2     - 185

Lankan mercenaries fighting in Russo-Ukraine war - EDITORIAL

Media reports have been circulating of Sri Lankan ex-military personnel being involved in the Russo-Ukraine conflict. With the war raging in Ukraine, many Ukrainian males of military age have...

15 May 2024 - 4     - 244

No excuse for RPCs says Thondaman

Staying true to his promise, Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman did succeed in convincing the authorities- including the Wages Board- to increase the estate worker’s salaries from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1700. “The daily wage of Rs. 1700 was agreed upon following consultations between trade unions and workers,” he said speaking to the Daily Mirror. “We also benchmarked this on the recommendation of Fair Trade

16 May 2024 - 0     - 292

Human Rights scholars demand Sri Lanka halts plans for proposed TRC

A group comprising transitional justice and human rights scholars from across the world have come together in an effort to express its concerns on the current efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to establish a Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation (CTUR). The release is as follows:

16 May 2024 - 0     - 226

Nallusamy Seethaletchami, an estate worker from Bogawantalawa worries about being paid a minimum salary for her work. Female workers like Seethaletchami comprise a greater percentage of the economically active population within the labour force. Sometimes they are the sole breadwinners in their families and have to brave many social and economic challenges to provide a stable environment for their children and sometimes their spouses, who also de

‘The Fall Guy’ Dangerous leap of a stuntman

American comedy thriller ‘The Fall Guy’ narrates around a down-and-out stuntman who must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend’s blockbuster film. Based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers, the film, directed by David Leitch, is now being screened in theatres around Colombo and few other theatres around the country. Scripted by Drew Pearce, the film stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Tere

16 May 2024 - 0     - 140

‘The First Teacher’ turned into Sri Lankan play: A lesson on a teacher-student relationship

Based on world renowned Russian writer Tchinguiz Aitmatov’s novel ‘The First Teacher’ (Guru Geethaya), a stage play derived from the novel and directed by Prof. Mangala Senanayake will have....

15 May 2024 - 0     - 379

‘People’s Forum for Reforms’ launched to catalyse positive change

A momentous event unfolded last Saturday at the Auditorium of JAT Holdings Thalawathugoda as the ‘People’s Forum for Reforms’ was officially launched. The forum, hailed as a beacon of hope for Sri Lanka’s future, saw an assembly of distinguished guests from various sectors, all unified in their commitment to fostering a stronger civil movement for national progress. Prof. Prathibha Mahanamahewa, the esteemed keynote speaker, delivered a stirring

14 May 2024 - 1     - 174

Have the governing MPs really understood the Online Safety Bill?

An amended Online Safety Bill was passed in Parliament on Wednesday, despite calls from the opposition to delay the debating of the Bill and internati...

25 Jan 2024 - 18     - 2761

’’Told you to plant something’’

With vegetable prices skyrocketing, Sri Lankan ministers have come up with an enterprising solution to the problem: Grow your own vegetables!...

19 Jan 2024 - 21     - 1470

Tourism is on the rise again, but what does Colombo offer our overseas visitors?

Sri Lanka appears on course to meet its 1.5 million tourist target for 2023, and have set their sights on increasing that number by 1 million next yea...

12 Dec 2023 - 31     - 4175

This Week in Our Comments Section: Can a legend save Sri Lanka cricket?

In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s dreadful Cricket World Cup campaign, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva called on a former cricketing le...

28 Nov 2023 - 14     - 3558

Sri Lankan graduates lured to work in online dating scams in Laos

The ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka had hampered his marketing job and thus, when he heard he could earn US$1,000 a month at an IT job in Thailan...

08 Feb 2023 - 13     - 11638

Kamindu Mendis clinches Player of the Month title for March

08 Apr 2024

Sri Lanka eye on winning start in ODI Series

13 Mar 2024

How’s Niroshan Dickwella Public Enemy No 1?

03 Mar 2024

SSC clears Danushka to resume domestic cricket

22 Dec 2023

The construction of the phase from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa- of the project titled ‘Expressway Network of Sri Lanka’- was completed in 2011. During its construction, a medical....

Last throes of dynastic enterprise: Rajapaksa plots to stall recovery after ruining economy

Like the rest of his ilk in this part of the world, Mahinda Rajapaksa overstayed his welcome in the power. He ran the economy to the ground as he did with the national carrier...

15 May 2024 - 11     - 2535

The rise and fall of South Asian leaders in Britain and Ireland

An extraordinary change had taken place in Great Britain and Ireland in the recent past. Persons from the erstwhile British Empire entered British politics, became MPs and Ministers and a few rose to be heads of government. These events changed the racial and political profile of the former imperial power. In 2017, Leo Varadkar (45), part Irish and party Indian, became the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland for the first time. In 2022, he beca

14 May 2024 - 5     - 906

Foreigner, Freeman forced out of Parliament 90 years ago First British passport holder elected to Parliament in 1924

Abolish the National List; empower the electorate to choose their representatives. The current system is flawed, with party leaders and secretaries often lacking insight. They appoint individuals with dubious backgrounds, including terrorists and non-citizens, merely for financial gain. This practice undermines the credibility of our democratic principles and turns them into a farce. Let’s restore integrity to our electoral process by allowing pe

14 May 2024 - 1     - 411

Election merry-go-round

Election fever is in the air. Yet elections have not been announced. It’s ‘Fun-O-Rama’ time for politicians who are having a ball. Past President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his time was a past master at splitting political parties that opposed him. This time around, the ex-president’s party-the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)- is one of the political outfits that is faced with several splits. The former chairman of the SLPP with 13 SLPP MPs def

14 May 2024 - 2     - 289

Untangling Sri Lanka’s messy government structure

It would be an absolute surprise for someone walking into a local ministry to find everything crystal clear. Rather it could be just the opposite with the operation all over the place. Sri Lanka’s system of government has a history of assigning unrelated subjects to a single ministry, thereby including multiple departments and institutions under one roof. The latest blueprint document for rational government by Verité Research reveals that the co

14 May 2024 - 1     - 326

Gayathri gives the voice for Eve in Haydn’s ‘Creation’

Internationally awarded musician and a leading composer from Sri Lanka Gayathri Khemadasa has been commissioned to set the song for Eve in the choral....

10 May 2024 - 0     - 654

Artificial limb camp by India in Sri Lanka

A Camp to provide artificial limbs to 1000 Sri Lankan beneficiaries was jointly inaugurated on May 7, 2024 by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E Santosh Jha. According to a press release issued by the High Commissioner of India some of the notable attendees at the event were State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Denfence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne and Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt Gen Vikum Liyanage. The event was

09 May 2024 - 0     - 241

Prasanna’s film ‘Paradise’ wins international acclaim in Spain

Seasoned filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage’s latest film ‘Paradise’- an Indo-Sri Lankan production- won the Audience Jury Awards at the recently concluded Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival in Spain. This cinematic creation was put up honours at the 23rd Film festival which had creations from all five continents. Prasanna’s film revolves around a couple who visit Sri Lanka at a time of economic and political turmoil. The film com

09 May 2024 - 0     - 574

Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders: SLGGA’s ‘Ceylona 2024’ prepares to empower young women

In a society where females are looked under-worthy, the Sri Lanka Girl Guide Association (SLGGA) empowers young women through educational and leadership programmes. The International....

08 May 2024 - 0     - 179

This Week in Our Comments Section: Who runs Sri Lanka Cricket?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe last week clarified suggestions that BCCI Secretary Jay Shah was running Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Here are some comment...

27 Nov 2023 - 6     - 1494

How low will our MPs go?

How low will our MPs go?...

24 Nov 2023 - 20     - 1807

Cartoon of the Day 17-05-2024

5 hours ago - 1     - 673

MP Ranawaka shows Sri Lanka borrowed more than it repaid in foreign loans

MP Ranawaka claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Sri Lanka has borrowed more than it has repaid, citing USD 3 billion in new loans and USD 2 billion in repayments. FactCheck.lk understands his claim, as cited in his X thread, to refer to the period after the country’s April 2022 default on external debt (‘post-default’ period). To check this claim, FactCheck.lk reviewed the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) statistical tables on its website, the C

09 May 2024 - 2     - 285

MP Pasqual goes adrift on students “drifting aimlessly”

In his speech, MP Pasqual argues that only a small fraction (10%) of students have the opportunity to attend university and that everybody else, after completing school, is “left to drift aimlessly.” FactCheck.lk interprets the MP’s larger claim to refer to making a case for more state universities. This fact-check focuses on the statistics cited and the argument made by the MP to support his claim. There may be other arguments in support of his

25 Apr 2024 - 1     - 231

MP Herath inflates president’s budget

In parliament, MP Vijitha Herath made two claims about expenditure allocations related to the president: (1) the budget line item titled president’s expenditure head (to discharge duties as the head of state) has increased to LKR 3,779 million, and (2) seven ministries headed by the president have been allocated 66.7% of the total budget expenditure. To verify the MP’s claim, FactCheck.lk referred to the draft Budget Estimates for 2024 (which wer

04 Apr 2024 - 0     - 377

MP Weerawansa describes wealth inequality as income inequality

The MP argued at a press conference that Sri Lanka’s tax policies don’t take adequate account of the huge inequality existing among Sri Lankan citizens, when designing the distribution of the tax burden. In support of this larger argument, he provided the above statistics highlighting inequality. To check this claim, FactCheck.lk consulted the World Inequality Database (WID) and the 2019 Human Development Report (HDR) by the UNDP. The most recen

07 Mar 2024 - 8     - 906

INFOGRAPHICS

SRI LANKAN MIGRANTS:21% Work Abroad ,Majority Seek Residency

Sri Lanka’s Bureau of Foreign Employment data reveals that only 21% of those who left the country in 2023 departed for foreign employment. The majority emigrated for reasons such as permanent residency abroad, educational pursuits, or other personal endeavours.

29 Apr 2024 - 0     - 494

HIV Surge Among Youth

According to the latest National STD/AIDS Control Programme data, HIV infections are on the rise among youths aged 15-24. In 2022, there were 75 reported cases of HIV in this age group, increasing to 105 cases in 2023, marking a 40% increase.

01 Apr 2024 - 1     - 606

Sharp Drop in Phone Usage

According to a Ministry of Finance report, there has been a notable decrease in both mobile phone and landline usage as of June 2023 in the country. In comparison to June 2022, the number of active mobile phones has declined from 29.5 million to 27.9 million, indicating a reduction of approximately 1.7 million devices.

25 Mar 2024 - 2     - 805

Bleak Island

The majority of children admitted to child care homes in Sri Lanka are categorized as destitute children. Department of Census and Statistics data indicates that 70% of children in these homes fall under this classification, with females comprising the largest proportion among them.

18 Mar 2024 - 0     - 402

40 minute ago

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Eshan Pieris secures silver class victory at GT World Challenge Asia Round 4 in Thailand

16 May 2024

Colombo Stock Exchange adopts two 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulances

13 May 2024

Orion Developments signs US $ 1.78 Million agreement with BOI

Central Bank joins chorus urging need to uphold reform momentum

10 May 2024

Today’s exchange rate - 16 May 2024

Today's print headlines.

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Todays, print headlines

Today's headlines, government to evoke 2007 circular to take action against non academics on strike.

STF officer’s endeavor lit up school children

4 hours ago

Duminda’s case against Wijeyadasa’s appointment as SLFP Chairman dismissed

Daily Mirror political debate between leaders RW declines, Sajith yet to respond, AKD says yes

Court orders release of animals back to pet lover, universities hit a brick wall amid non-academic staff strike, pol sambol sold at rs.60 per saucer and rs.20 a table spoon.

A story about a young man who was charged 20 Rupees for a table spoon of coconut Sambol which he consumed at a restaurant was reported from Kegalle....

07 Oct 2020 - 7     - 30594

Man gives birth to baby boy at Matara Hospital

A large crowd thronged Matara Hospital recently after hearing the shocking news of a man who had given birth to a baby boy. The man sporting a beard had been from a village bordering Matara....

23 Jan 2020 - 11     - 46758

Beggar woman with Rs.100,000 detained by Railway Security

Railway Security Guards had arrested a beggar woman with the possession of Rs.200,000 who had been begging in the train....

03 Jan 2020 - 7     - 26590

Child poisoned by mother's paramour

A young man who had allegedly given poison to his paramour’s ten-year-old son in an attempt to kill him, was produced before the Nawalapitiya magistrate Chandani Meegoda and remanded till December 6...

04 Dec 2019 - 1     - 24206

More Dailymirror online

In the backdrop where a great debate has been started on whether the Presidential or General Elections should be held first or both together, where do you stand in this debate as citizens?

• Presidential poll first
• Parliamentary Election first
• Both together

POLITICAL GOSSIP

He has become the choice for top office of an unknown group!

Is he having second thoughts?

A prominent absentee on May Day!

Mirror business.

SL’s digital transformation lags behind despite online transaction surge: Industry

Despite the significant surge in adoption of digital payment in 2023, Sri Lanka is yet to reach inflection point in digital transformation as the economy still remains largely a cash-based, industry s...

17 May 2024 - 0     - 119

Fonterra mulls divesting Sri Lankan businesses

17 May 2024 - 0     - 142

Kapruka with LankaPay offers web-based direct bank payments

17 May 2024 - 0     - 81

PRESS RELEASES

“SIASE” Switches and Sockets enters Sri Lankan market with SLS Certification

15 May 2024 - 0     - 50

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to Host IORA Business Conclave 2024

13 May 2024 - 0     - 118

Beware of Fraudulent WhatsApp Groups Impersonating Melstacorp PLC

09 May 2024 - 0     - 154

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

An electric shock for the public

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) explained the electricity tariff revision which took effect from today.

17 Feb 2023 - 2     - 2044

Public react to petrol price hike

A cross section of society expressed their opinions on the increase of the price of petrol.

06 Feb 2023 - 0     - 1431

Traders at Peliyagoda market unhappy

20 Jan 2023 - 2     - 2642

Do we need an election now?

19 Jan 2023 - 0     - 2103

08 Apr 2024 - 0     - 260

12 Sep 2023 - 0     - 980

05 Aug 2023 - 0     - 1581

09 Jul 2023 - 4     - 3956

22 Apr 2024 - 1     - 647

Namal not yet fit to be President

08 Apr 2024 - 6     - 755

28 Feb 2024 - 2     - 1210

26 Feb 2024 - 5     - 916

• Tourism News
• Tourism Development Levy
• Sri Lanka Tourist Attractions

Sri Lanka Tourism Strategic Plane 2017 - 2020

Download Application

English Application

Sinhala application, tamil application, sltda wins the merit award at the 2023 bestweb.lk competition, august 14, 2023.

SLTDA enters into a MoU with NDB Bank to launch a Travel Card

February 26, 2023.

Tourist can top up the card using Forex and start using it at SLTDA registered merchants to enjoy attractive benefits. This will help to ease the country’s economy and bring in a percentage of Forex into the formal channel and both tourist and industry will benefit hrough safe, transparent transactions, with low commission rates. Also it will enable industry to better craft the products according to expenditure patterns.

Design Guideline for the Tourist Accommodation Facilities

July 12, 2022.

The Design Guideline incorporates a set of instructions aiming to help designers via the consolidation of already existing national design regulations and standards and best international practices in one single document.  These sets of instructions are intended to cover the minimum design requirements for tourist accommodation facilities to help designers and builders to create facilities that are functional and aesthetic to tourists, all while leaving space for designers to come up with innovative and creative ideas. 

Sri Lanka Convention Bureau joins with Business Chambers & Associations to resume MICE Tourism.

August 25, 2021.

Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) is a state institute under the Ministry of Tourism with the prime objective of promoting Sri Lanka as a venue for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions & Events) activities.

Sri Lanka Tourism launches membership drive for informal sector supported by Australia’s MDF

August 11, 2021.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), with the support from Market Development Facility (MDF), Australia’s flagship private sector development program, has launched a membership drive to encourage informal sector tourism operators to register with SLTDA. The membership drive was launched recently with a trilingual video series featuring celebrated cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara.

Sri Lanka Tourism attracts over $950 Million in tourism investments despite Pandemic

August 09, 2021.

Foreign investment is a key driver of economic growth, as is the revenue generated via tourism. As one of its primary exports, tourism remains Sri Lanka’s calling card to the world. Over the last fifteen months (March 2020-June 2021) the government has attracted over $950 million in investments, dedicated to revitalising the island’s burgeoning tourism sector.

Sri Lanka Tourism in partnership with UNDP in Sri Lanka take forward National Sustainable Destination Certification (NSDC) as the 2nd phase of the National Sustainable Tourism Initiative.

August 02, 2021.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Ministry of Tourism with the technical and financial assistance of UNDP in Sri Lanka has initiated the National Sustainable Destination Certification (NSDC) scheme to transform 9 chosen destinations in 9 provinces with the best sustainable practices as the 2nd phase of the National Sustainable Tourism Initiative.

Sri Lanka Tourism introduces an e-learning platform for all SLTDA registered tourist guides

July 29, 2021.

As an initiative to uplift the reviving tourism industry in the country, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in collaboration with Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM) have introduced the continuous professional development (CPD) e- learning platform to all registered guides to enhance their knowledge and skills.

World Bank Webinar on Tourism Sustainability and Resilience features Sri Lanka Tourism

July 28, 2021.

Tourism is a key source of export revenues and employment for the Island and Sri Lanka Tourism recognising the potential for the sector, is focused on developing new products, exploring new markets, and positioning Sri Lanka as the ultimate experiential destination. The Authorities further understand that whilst there are emerging opportunities for growth, it is important to recognize the vulnerability of the sector and strategise on mechanisms to champion resilience and sustainability, with the assistance of Global partners such as the World Bank. Sri Lanka’s tourism product is based largely on natural resources, and it would be detrimental to the industry if proper practices and controls are not followed to ensure the sustenance of the sector.

Press Statement : Opening Yala National Park on 8th June 2021

June 06, 2021.

Our attention has been drawn to certain social media posts being widely circulated in the public domain where reference is drawn to tourists brought in by certain individuals.The posts referred to are devoid of truth. We note the wide publicity given to such false posts. There is no such request nor approval given. The ability to visit a ‘Tourist Site’ requires the approval of the respective Line Agency. In this case the Wildlife Department. In the event the Line Agency approves only, can Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority grant approval to visit a site. In this regard we have not received any such request to seek approval to visit Yala National Park.

Sri Lanka Tourism to participate in Sri Lanka Investment Forum (SLIF)

June 05, 2021.

Sri Lanka Tourism will be one of the key sectors highlighted at the upcoming Sri Lanka Investment Forum (SLIF) 2021, the first and largest virtual investor forum in the region scheduled to be held from 7th to 9th June 2021. Opportunities for investments in the tourism sector will be one of the key areas of the forum among 50+ sessions scheduled to reach across two time zones. Sri Lanka Tourism is participating in the forum to promote and position the island as the perfect destination for post-Covid travel and thereby attract foreign direct investors.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority approves Bolagala Floating Agro Tourism Resort in Katana – a novel Agro Tourism concept.

March 24, 2021.

Bolagala Floating Agro Tourism Resort in Katana located close to the Negombo tourism hub will be the newest addition to the inventory of unique experiences for tourists visiting Sri Lanka. This is the first-ever floating resort in Sri Lanka created adopting an agro-tourism theme consists of 50 floating cabanas, including 10 GPS tracker equipped cabanas that could freely move around the picturesque lake giving visitors an exceptional experience: floating swimming pool, floating restaurant, main restaurant, pub & karaoke lounge, underwater spa, gym are the main components of the project.

SLTDA streamlines the tourism investment approval process with one common application collaborating 18 line agencies.

October 08, 2020.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has made the tourism investment process easy by streamlining the project approval process and the facilitation services provided by the Investor Relations Unit (IRU) - the unit established within SLTDA as the centralized facilitation arm for tourism investments in the country.

Sri Lanka Tourism and Australia’s MDF to develop five-year plan to transform tourism research

October 06, 2020.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) have joined hands to develop a research roadmap to facilitate Sri Lanka’s position as Asia’s foremost tourism destination....

Press Release: Sri Lanka receives Safe Travels Stamp from World Travel & Tourism Council.

August 20, 2020.

Recognizing the safety protocols introduced by the Government of Sri Lanka along with standards mandated by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)to ensure the safety of domestic and international travelers.....

SRI LANKA TOURISM

PhonePe UPI payments launched in Sri Lanka

The transactions will be facilitated by the UPI and LankaPay National Payment Network. Users can scan LankaQR code to make secure and quick payments without carrying cash or calculating currency conversions. The amount will be debited in Indian currency, showing the currency exchange rate.

Maldives gets IMF debt warning as more Chinese loans loom

Maldives warned by IMF of 'debt distress' due to heavy borrowing from China. Urgent need to increase revenue, reduce spending, and limit external borrowing to avoid economic crisis amid high risks and dependence on Chinese funding.

Sri Lanka extends visa-free access for Indian tourists

Sri Lanka has renewed visa-free entry for tourists from India and six other countries to boost tourism industry recovery post-pandemic and economic crises. The initiative aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for international travelers, signaling the government's commitment to promoting tourism and creating seamless travel experiences. Online visa application process introduced for security checks.

No Indian firms involved in providing 'Visa on Arrival' at Colombo airport: High Commission

The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka refuted claims blaming an "Indian company" for visa issuance problems at the Bandaranaike International Airport. They clarified that the companies involved are not India-based, dismissing any association with India. Sri Lankan immigration authorities regained control of the 'Visa on Arrival' counters at the Colombo International Airport after the Indian firm allegedly failed to operate smoothly.

India sends holy Sarayu water to Sri Lanka for consecration ceremony of Seetha Amma temple

India sends sacred water from Sarayu river to Sri Lanka for Seetha Amma Temple's consecration, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations. The ceremony signifies the spiritual and cultural bond between the two nations, with Mahant Shashikant Das praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contributions.

ITC exploring hotel business expansion opportunity in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Middle East

Chairman and managing director Sanjiv Puri said ITC is looking to add more than 70 hotels over the next five years in India, mostly through management contracts. Its next greenfield hotel property will open in the coastal city of Puri in Odisha.

Sri Lanka launches new e-visa system: Everything you need to know

Sri Lanka launched an e-visa system, streamlining the visa application process for travellers. The initiative offers updated requirements, fees, and validity periods, enhancing efficiency and convenience for various nationalities visiting for tourism, business, or transit.

Keep the juggernaut rolling

The state has nearly bridged the gap with the national per-capita income. In 2003, its per-capita income was 60% of the national average, and today, it's close to 90%. This convergence was possible as Odisha's economy grew faster (7.4%) than the national average (6.2%). Its population growth rate has slowed to 0.6% a year, compared to 0.9% for the nation.

Cricket tourism and hospitality takes off in the US

Founded by an Indian-American couple from Bihar, Florida-based Cricketbuster is trying to capture this "cricket mania" among the Indian-American population and those from the cricket-playing nations by offering them customisable travel packages that include official match tickets, hotels, flights, cruises and many other attractions for international cricket tournaments and the all-important T20 leagues all across the world.

21 Indians detained in Sri Lanka for working illegally while on tourist visa

Sri Lankan authorities have detained 21 Indian nationals for running a computer-operated business illegally while on tourist visas. The men, aged 24 to 25, were found in Negombo, operating a business from a rented house. They have been moved to a detention center and face deportation once investigations are completed.

Tourism just joined military-industry

Army Polygon, a St Petersburg-based company, invites Indian tourists to experience military tourism with amphibious armored personnel carriers and T-62 tanks. This caters to the increasing demand for bespoke adventures. However, tourists should be aware of the risks and consider life insurance.

Sri Lanka's tourism sector sees 122 per cent growth in Jan 2024 compared to last year, says minister

Sri Lanka's external sector performance has improved, with tourism revenue increasing by 122% in January 2024. The economy recorded positive growth in the third quarter of 2023. Inward remittances from Sri Lankan expats grew by 5%. The Sri Lankan rupee appreciated by 14.6% in January, and foreign reserves increased to USD 4.5 billion.

Military tourism to Arabian winter, travel goes offbeat

Army Polygon, a company specializing in military-style events, is aiming to attract Indian travellers for military tourism this year. The company is working on partnerships with Indian travel companies to offer programs such as a ride on a real reconnaissance vehicle, BTR-80, or T-62 tanks. The Saudi Tourism Authority is also promoting attractions such as a private tour in Hegra, an Arabian winter with snowfall in the northern region of Saudi, and scaling the Al Qarah mountain.

Visa-free locales top Indians' list for a foreign holiday

Sri Lanka and Thailand have seen a significant increase in bookings since offering visa exemptions. The holiday season saw a spike in bookings for visa-free destinations. Governments are considering easing visa restrictions to further boost growth in the tourism sector.

PM Modi describes UPI as ‘Uniting partners with India’ as UPI services launched in Sri Lanka & Mauritius

India extends its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and RuPay card services to Sri Lanka and Mauritius, showcasing its leadership in the Indian Ocean Region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the modern digital connectivity's significance in strengthening historical relations. Highlighting India's "neighbourhood first" policy and maritime vision "SAGAR," Modi emphasized peace, security, and development. The move aims to boost tourism and deepen economic ties, reflecting success in Global South cooperation. This expansion benefits Indian nationals traveling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius and vice versa, enhancing financial connectivity and people-to-people linkages.

Sri Lanka mulls extension of visa-free access to Indian tourists

Sri Lanka is considering extending the visa exemption status for Indian tourists, aiming to establish itself as an easily accessible destination. The move comes as the country seeks to increase footfalls and streamline travel processes.

Why are tourists not visiting Goa? Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho reveals two key reasons

Goa's Transport Minister, Mauvin Godinho, acknowledges tourists' concerns about the high costs associated with the destination. Speaking to taxi operators, he urges reconsideration of fare structures, highlighting the overall high pricing in Goa's tourism sector, including hotels and taxis. Godinho emphasizes the impact of increased airline rates, making foreign destinations more cost-effective. Concerned about Goa losing its appeal, he calls for industry stakeholders to reflect on the situation collectively.

More visa-free travel for Indians is good for Goa, too

Visa-free entry is a carrot to expand the $28 billion that 27 million Indians spent overseas in 2019. Those numbers had swelled eightfold and sixfold, respectively, in the two decades before the pandemic.

Indian travellers can visit Sri Lanka visa-free, stay for up to a month

This initiative, following a Cabinet decision in October, extends to travelers from other key countries, including China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The decision to provide free tourist visas is part of ongoing efforts to rejuvenate Sri Lanka's tourism, which faced a decline following the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

Vietnam may be the latest country to let Indians visit visa-free

Starting from mid-August, Vietnam began issuing e-visas for individuals from all countries and territories, providing a validity period of 90 days and allowing multiple entries. For citizens from the 13 countries exempted from visa requirements, there has been a threefold extension in the duration of stay, now set at 45 days.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman calls on companies to drive India-Lanka economic integration

FM suggested that Sri Lanka explore the feasibility of widening its economic basket from just tourism and tea to focus on sectors like pharmaceuticals and renewable energy, according to a post by the Indian finance ministry on X (formerly Twitter). The minister was speaking on the theme of 'Enhancing Connectivity: Partnering for Prosperity' at the India Sri Lanka Business Summit in Colombo late Thursday.

Visa-free travel: 10 spots in Sri Lanka you can't miss

Sri Lanka announces visa-free travel for tourists from India, 6 other countries

The pilot project, which began immediately, will be in effect until March 31, 2024. Minister Sabry shared this update, stating, "Cabinet approves issuing of free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia & Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project till 31 March."

"Important milestone in strengthening our relations": PM Modi at launch of ferry services between India, Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch of ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka as a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations. The ferry service, flagged off by Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, aims to enhance connectivity, trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Sri Lanka introduces Digital Nomad Visa

Sri Lanka has approved the Digital Nomad Visa, which is expected to boost tourism in the country. To be eligible for the visa, applicants must have a minimum monthly income of $2,000, which should be channeled through the Sri Lankan banking system. The visa can be renewed annually with a minimum bank balance requirement.

On Ramayana trail, young Indians help revive tourism in crisis-hit Sri Lanka

India is the largest tourist source market for Sri Lanka, which is yet to recover from its worst financial crisis in decades that pushed it to bankruptcy status last year. The country received 720,000 tourists last year and the target is to get 1.55 million tourists.

India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee discusses resumption of ferry services

The Joint Committee identified a number of areas for mutual cooperation for the operationalisation of ferry services in the near future and desired to take further steps based on mutual understanding, a statement said.

India now biggest source market for Sri Lanka tourism

"India has been the biggest source market. Even going back in time, every time we have had a crisis, when we have come to a real crunch, it is India that has come to our rescue. At the moment the top markets are India and Russia. UK was a very big market. Hopefully, it should come back," Chalaka Gajabahu, chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) said.

India biggest source market, likely to stay so for next couple of years: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau

Gajabahu said the country has already got over 600,000 incoming tourists till June 30. "Our last year's overall figure was 720,000. Our target is to get 1.55 million tourists. 2018 was the best year in terms of travel for us as we got 2.3 million tourists. If we can get close to 2 million, it will be a massive recovery for us," he said.

Is Sri Lanka the new luxury hospitality getaway for Israelis?

W ith Israel’s Foreign Ministry’s recent travel warning against visiting the Maldives “due to the heightened anti-Israel atmosphere, including public comments by officials,” I wondered what might be the Asian luxury alternative in 2024. It was somewhat surprising to hear this winter that Arkia Airlines announced its first-ever direct flights to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, and I was definitely intrigued. Is this island the alternative?

Since childhood, Sri Lanka , formerly named Ceylon, has been associated in my mind with tea. It’s a mysterious island in the Indian Ocean, close to India’s southern coast. I must admit that aiming east to explore Thailand and Vietnam was always more appealing. A couple of years ago, when my son’s teenage girlfriend vanished there for almost a month to surf in the ocean in a mysterious village named Weligama, I became curious.

I decided to visit this island country for ten days, so I booked a flight via Dubai , and after a long (and rather expensive) trip, my spouse and I landed at the Negombo airport, near Colombo. I was curious to reveal the mystery of how the country survived four years of endless misfortune and moved on to focus on reboosting tourism. The arrival of travelers dropped drastically in Easter 2019 after the ISIS bombings of luxury hotels and churches that killed more than 250 people. COVID hit Sri Lanka before it had a chance to recover. In 2022, the country experienced economic and political turmoil.

What are the chances of starting over? In 2023, Sri Lanka welcomed 1,487,000 tourists, an increase of more than 100% from 2022. Optimism permeated the air as I met drivers, hotel receptionists, restaurant managers, and tour guides at the start of 2024.

Exploring the wonders of Sri Lanka’s inlands was a marvel. Tea plantations in the inlands contribute significantly to the economy. Tea plantations in the inlands contribute significantly to the economy. The early 19th century saw plantations terraced into the mountainsides, accompanied by adjacent factories. Between Kandy and Ella, visitors will enjoy the product most associated with this island.

DAMBULLA’S FAMED rock cave temple houses some of the finest works of Buddhist art in Sri Lanka. The dozens of Buddha statues and his disciples left us speechless. Climbing the endless steps accompanied by jumping monkeys was surrealistic.

The massive Sigiriya Lion Rock column in the middle of the jungle is a powerful creation of nature. For my money, it is the highlight of the Sri Lanka visit. Climbing 1,270 steps is a challenging effort. While heat and humidity are important considerations, the adventure is truly unforgettable. The fortress at the very top dates back to the 5th century, when King Kasyapa chose this site as his new capital.

By the ocean, Negombo’s fish scenery is a must visit. Unfamiliar fish are presented here. Most of them are laid out on enormous mats made of coconut fiber, an age-old method of open-air drying.

We were also eager to discover nature in the southern part of the island, at the most famous national park here, Yala. This gigantic area of light forest, grassy plains, and brackish lagoons is very rich in wildlife. It was exciting to encounter deer, buffaloes, and rare bird species. Although this is not an African safari, we certainly enjoyed the experience. Elephants attracted us the most; however, the main tracks and viewing spots were crowded, especially when a leopard was in sight. It is not a common sight for the visitors that flock to this park by the numbers.

Galle is yet another city to visit. Known for its fort, this fortified old city is surrounded by impressive sea walls; it is the largest remaining colonial-era fortress in all of Asia. Its narrow streets reflect the rich history of Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule.

IN THE capital city Colombo, a bustling, lively metropolitan, we visited the marvelous Gangaramaya Temple and paid tribute to Sri Lanka’s independence at the city center national monument. Tourism experts in this capital faced the challenge of increasing the number of tourists, particularly high-end travelers, this year. To achieve this, the country launched its first global tourism marketing campaign in 16 years under the slogan, “You Will Come Back For More.” Israel was not included.

Does Sri Lanka offer luxury resorts by the ocean to attract the wealthy tourists from India, China, Russia, Britain, and even Israel?

Apparently, the leading unofficial ambassador for Sri Lanka’s luxury hospitality in Israel is Tamir Kobrin, the general manager of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. Kobrin was in charge of opening Anantara hotels and resort properties in Sri Lanka more than a decade ago. Most Israelis are familiar with Asian Six Senses hotels and resorts due to the opening of a hotel in Shaharut in the Negev. Anantara Hotels & Resorts is the flagship luxury brand for Thai conglomerate Minor Hotels. This brand combines the hospitality of its homeland with the modern, global luxury hotel industry and what today’s traveler wants.

“My main goal in opening these hotels, the first international brand outside the capital Colombo, was to combine luxury with local Sri Lankan heritage and tradition. This is what high-end travelers look for today”, said Kobrin. “In India and the Maldives I have experienced the success of the local atmosphere incorporated with luxury. In Sri Lanka, we revived that concept. Guests were welcomed and departed with dancers demonstrating their village folklore or religious blessings. Cooking classes and workshops for home-made food were on the agenda, and the entire atmosphere was local. That certainly paved the path for the curiosity of the high-end market.”

Kobrin’s first hotel in Sri Lanka was in Tangalle, a southern fishing port situated on a bay protected from the ocean by an enclosing reef – an important anchorage during Dutch and British rule. It is well reputed for its beautiful and virtually untouched coastline, which is favored by those seeking a romantic beach getaway or the perfect honeymoon destination.

Kobrin is apparently a legend among the local veteran employees in this Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle retreat. The resort sits on a rocky outcrop near a golden-hued beach fringed by pampering lagoons and coconut palms that overlook the roaring Indian Ocean. It is certainly a place that makes guests feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. One can sit for hours at this point or on the nearby top of the cliff and endlessly observe the ocean landscape. The resort offers 152 rooms with 32 pool villas, and it’s surrounded by 21 beautiful acres of natural animal sanctuary.

Closer to Colombo, the Anantara Kalutara Resort is another monumental and friendly hotel, inspired by the impressive architecture of Geoffrey Bawa, the late reputed genius of Sri Lanka. Bawa is the father of Tropical Modernist architecture. One cannot ignore the main structure, which is rarely seen in any resort on the worldwide.

It is the hub for arriving guests, who are welcomed by young folk dancers. It is home for check-in and check-out procedures, the bar, the lounge, and the main dining room – impressive multifunctional planning, utilizing winds and fresh air. With an extraordinary, secluded beachfront setting on the picturesque southwest coast, where the Kalu Ganga River meets the Indian Ocean, this resort, with 142 rooms and villas and a unique Ayurvedic spa, offers an authentic local leisure experience for the upmarket.

“What are the challenges?” I asked Anantara Hotels and Resorts Country Director Keith Tomkies.

“We need to expand to new markets. There is a constant need by the local Ministry of Tourism to find ways to encourage new visitors. A major challenge is the increase in the number of flights arriving here,” Tomkies said. He acknowledged that I was the first Israeli he has ever met. “I am thrilled with the direct flight from Tel Aviv. Tourists from the Holy Land are most welcome. 

Kalutara is around 90 minutes from the airport. Visitors will surely enjoy the rich history and culture that Sri Lanka presents, together with the many experiences the resorts offer,” he promises.

Although Israelis might find the airfare costs high, staying in Sri Lanka’s luxury resorts on the island is much more affordable than staying in leisure hotels in any place in Israel or Europe. You can be sure to visit a country that showcases a rich local heritage and remains unaffected by heavy tourism, unlike popular Asian countries. It’s a destination to explore.

The writer is the Travel Flash Tips publisher.

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5 latest visa updates tailor-made for Indian travellers

TRAVEL NEWS , INDIA Created : May 14, 2024, 09:00 IST

As the summer holiday planning frenzy takes hold, there's a silver lining for all those travellers eyeing Asian destinations for summer vacations. You will find lots of options in India, but if you are planning for international travel, here are some quick updates on visa regulations that will promise you smoother journeys. These are extended visa-free entry and enhanced Schengen visa provisions. Read on to make informed decisions.

Sri Lanka's visa-free extension

​Sri Lanka's hospitality continues to shine as the nation extends its warm welcome to Indian visitors. As reported earlier, the island nation has prolonged its visa-free entry offer until May 31, 2024. This means Indian travellers can explore Sri Lanka's beauty without worrying about visa fees for a delightful 30-day stay. However, one must remember to apply for an e-visa through the official website before embarking on their journey.

The program, first launched as a trial initiative in October, forms a key component of a strategic drive to rejuvenate Sri Lanka's tourism sector. Travellers from designated nations must complete visa applications via the official website prior to their departure. This complimentary visa permits a 30-day stay, facilitating hassle-free travel and discovery across the scenic island destination.

Thailand's extended visa-free entry

Thailand's recent announcement has stirred excitement among Indian travellers. Initially granting visa-free entry until May 10, 2024, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has now stretched this privilege further. As per the reports, Indian passport holders can revel in visa-free access for an additional six months, now until November 10, 2024. This extension grants a generous 30-day stay, doubling the previous allowance.

Multiple-entry Schengen visa for Indian travellers

The European Commission's recent adoption of a new Schengen visa rule spells good news for Indian travellers. Particularly beneficial for those with prior Schengen country visits, Indian nationals residing in India can now apply for long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years. This milestone achievement comes under the new visa 'cascade' regime effective from April 18. For those who've lawfully used two visas within the past three years, this provision offers unprecedented ease of travel. Previously elusive, the availability of six-month, two-year, and five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas for Indian nationals is a significant step forward in fostering travel convenience and strengthening bilateral ties.

Japan’s e-visa

Japan has implemented an eVisa system tailored for Indian travellers, simplifying and streamlining the process of visiting the country. Commencing from April, Indian citizens meeting eligibility criteria and foreign nationals residing in India can now seek eVisas for short-term tourism activities via the application platform managed by VFS Global. With this update, visas will no longer be affixed as physical stickers in passports; instead, they will be digitally issued, providing a single-entry option for stays of up to 90 days.

Dubai’s 5-year multiple-entry visa

In February, Dubai unveiled a fresh visa initiative designed specifically for Indian travellers. This program presents a five-year, multiple-entry visa alternative, enabling stays of up to 90 days per visit. Additionally, travellers have the option of a single extension annually, not surpassing 180 days, suitable for both business and leisure purposes. Notably, this visa facilitates unlimited entries and exits within the five-year period, offering unparalleled flexibility for travellers exploring Dubai.

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Hit a Six for Sri Lanka! Moose Clothing Company Unveils Sri Lanka Cricket Jersey Celebrating Tourism ahead of T20 world cup 2024

May, 13, 2024 -->

As anticipation builds for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Moose Clothing Company proudly debuted its latest creation: the new T20 jersey design for Sri Lanka cricket men’s national team. The launch event, held at Moose Clothing Company's headquarters in Ja Ela, was graced by the national men’s and women’s cricket team, esteemed dignitaries and special guests, adding to the excitement surrounding the occasion.

Recognizing cricket's revered status in Sri Lanka as a cherished pastime enjoyed by all generations, Moose Clothing Company views its involvement in this project as an exceptional opportunity. Crafting the national team's jersey design not only marks a significant milestone for the company but also signifies a proud moment in the nation's sporting history.

Central to Moose Clothing Company's vision for this project was the integration of Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage and iconic landmarks to promote tourism and showcase the country's unique identity on the global stage. Inspired by the island's natural beauty and historical landmarks, the design process meticulously incorporated symbols such as the Sri Lanka’s national flower Blue Water Lily, the Passant Royal Lion from the Sri Lankan flag, the iconic Nine Arch Train Bridge, and the world’s largest Asian Elephant Gathering in Habarana.

The emblem, a fusion of these symbolic elements, represents not only Sri Lanka but also the resilience and strength embodied by its people. Reflecting the indomitable spirit of Sri Lankans, the jersey design serves as a testament to the nation's unwavering determination and perseverance.

As the national cricket team prepares to take the field, Moose Clothing Company underscores the significance of representing more than just a game. By donning the new jersey, players will symbolize the hopes and dreams of the Sri Lankan people, showcasing their unwavering spirit and determination to excel on the global stage.

Speaking about the milestone and future plans, CEO of Moose Clothing Company, Hasib Omar said, “we're thrilled to unveil the new Sri Lanka cricket jersey for T20 world cup 2024. This launch isn't just about creating a stylish and functional garment for the team, it's about a strategic partnership that celebrates Sri Lankan pride on the global stage. We believe this jersey will not only inspire the players on the field but also ignite a passion for Sri Lanka's tourism treasures among fans around the world.”

Looking ahead, Hasib shared the company's ambitious vision of becoming an international brand. He further added, “Moose Clothing Company isn't stopping at Sri Lanka's shores. This partnership with Sri Lanka cricket marks a significant step towards our long-term vision of becoming a global fashion leader. By combining our unwavering commitment to quality and innovation with the international exposure of cricket, we're showcasing our capabilities to the world. This jersey launch is not just about supporting our national team, it's about igniting a passion for Sri Lankan fashion on a global scale.

With every match, Moose Clothing Company believes that the Sri Lankan team will not only play for victory but also carry the aspirations of a nation, inspiring pride and unity among its citizens. As the T20 World Cup draws near, the stage is set for Sri Lanka to shine once again, propelled by the enduring spirit encapsulated in every stitch of the new jersey.

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