By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is among 11 best places to visit in Asia in 2024 according to the influential Conde Nast Traveler even amidst its failure to achieve the US$ 2.7 billion tourism earnings target in 2023.
“From Sri Lanka’s shores to Uzbekistan’s Silk Road, Asia offers reasons galore to pack your bags and head east,” said CNTraveler editors in a posting on its website (https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-places-to-go-in-asia-).
CNTraveler said, “its official, Asia is back—brighter, bolder, and more ambitious than ever. The region took longer than others to shake off pandemic-related travel restrictions and border closures, but has returned in full force, eager to remind international travelers what they’ve been missing.”
Speaking at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce‘Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2023’ Aitken Spence PLC Deputy Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake on Wednesday predicted, a potential shortfall of 10-20% in the earnings target, citing concerns despite the reported tourist arrival numbers by authorities.
“A significant portion of the arrival numbers dished out comprises individuals visiting friends and relatives rather than contributing to the tourism revenue,” he pointed out.
Originally, Sri Lanka Tourism set a $ 3 billion earnings target but it was later revised to $ 2.7 billion after scaling down the arrivals target from 2 million to the original goal of 1.55 million for 2023.
The Central Bank data showed that during the first 10 months of the year, earnings totalled $ 1.59 billion, a 56% year-on-year (YoY) growth compared to the same period in
Sri Lanka is emerging phoenix-like from economic crisis and responding with a new food festival, wellness-oriented retreats, and a hiking trail that snakes through 186 miles of hill country and centuries of history.
Mongolia is relaxing visa restrictions to give more people the opportunity to experience its vast, rugged landscapes, and Kochi is setting the bar high when it comes to city-wide sustainability initiatives.
In the UAE, a lesser-known emirate is vying for attention, while a Japanese port city is flexing its design muscles.
Expanded green spaces, intriguing boutique resorts, luxury sleeper trains, and the ancient Silk Road: our list of the 11 best places to visit in Asia in 2024, entirely informed by contributing writers and editors spread across the region, is packed with reasons to head east.
Top 11 Best Places to visit in Asia in 2024 are Bangkok Chinatown, Thailand Da Nang, Vietnam Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Kobe, Japan, Kochi, India, Mongolia, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore the Silk Road, Uzbekistan, South and central Sri Lanka.
