Sri Lanka Pushes Homegrown Digital Tourism Platforms

COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath has underscored the need to strengthen Sri Lanka’s digital tourism ecosystem, stating that the future success of the industry depends on how effectively the country adapts to modern digital platforms.

The Minister made these remarks at the inauguration of the LilyLanka digital tourism platform, held in Colombo yesterday, in the presence of tourism industry stakeholders.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister noted that global tourism is increasingly shaped by digital platforms that influence how travellers discover destinations, make reservations, and plan their journeys. While tourism has long been a pillar of Sri Lanka’s economy, he stressed that natural beauty alone is no longer sufficient to remain competitive in the modern tourism landscape.

“Tourism has long been one of the pillars of our economy. Yet, in the modern world, success in tourism is no longer determined by natural beauty alone,” the Minister said. “It is determined by how effectively a nation adapts to the changing instruments of commerce and communication.”

He emphasised that digital platforms now play a decisive role in shaping travel decisions, making it both timely and necessary for Sri Lanka to strengthen its own digital tourism infrastructure. The LilyLanka platform, he said, represents an important step in that direction and aligns with the country’s broader vision of building a strong digital economy while supporting smart tourism systems that benefit both visitors and industry stakeholders.