Sri Lanka tourism finds new ways to cater to visitors from the Middle East – Expanding prospects for the industry

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is still in the process of recovery after the pandemic and the economic crisis the country is currently undergoing. Nonetheless, the tourism authorities in Sri Lanka have prepped up and taken the initiative to improve the industry and bring it back to what it was before COVID-19 hit. One strategy is making the country more appealing to tourists from Middle-Eastern countries.

The travel industry contributes about 5.6% to the gross domestic product of the island’s economy and so to bring this back to life the concept “Visit Sri Lanka Year” came into play in 2022. With the downturn of the economy, however, the Middle East was identified as one of the best markets to target for tourism. The Ambassador to Colombo from Saudi Arabia mentioned that Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for those from the kingdom to visit. Hotels near Nuwara Eliya Town the likes of Araliya Green City and most hotels down south and in the east ensure that experiences are Arab-friendly.