Asian – Dispatch

Colombo, March 18 (Daily Mirror) – A new digital tourism platform, LilyLanka, was officially launched on Tuesday as part of efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s move towards a technology-driven tourism industry, with the Government urging the sector to embrace digital tools to remain competitive in the global travel market.

The platform was inaugurated at Barnes Hall, Jetwing Colombo, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, who said the future of tourism is increasingly shaped by digital platforms that influence how travellers discover destinations, plan trips and make bookings.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said the launch of LilyLanka is in line with the Government’s broader push towards a digital economy and smart tourism ecosystem, adding that locally developed platforms can help ensure that a larger share of tourism revenue remains within the country.

He said that global travel trends show tourists now rely heavily on online systems for reservations, payments and travel information, making it essential for Sri Lanka to develop its own digital infrastructure to support the industry.

The Minister also called on hotels, tour operators and travel agencies to actively support the new platform, stressing that stronger cooperation between the Government and private sector is necessary to achieve sustainable growth in tourism.

He further highlighted the importance of maintaining traveller data within a national framework, explaining that accurate data collection can help authorities improve planning, marketing and policy decisions while promoting Sri Lanka more effectively as a global destination.

Industry stakeholders who attended the launch said initiatives such as LilyLanka could help modernise the tourism sector by improving connectivity between service providers and travellers, while reducing dependence on foreign booking platforms.

The launch of the platform comes as Sri Lanka continues efforts to rebuild the tourism industry and attract more visitors through digital promotion and improved services.

Source: Daily Mirror