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

20240209 sl tourism

Tourists walk along Mount Lavinia beach in Colombo. The country aims to significantly increase annual visitor arrivals. © Reuters

MUNZA MUSHTAQ, Contributing writer

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.

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