Colombo needs stronger international marketing and improved connectivity with key source markets to attract more foreign tourists, said Kamal Munasinghe, General Manager of Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams and Senior Vice President of Colombo Hotels at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

Responding to a media question about increasing tourist arrivals and attracting new visitors to Sri Lanka, Munasinghe said Colombo has developed a wider range of attractions and experiences in recent years but needs to communicate these offerings more effectively to international travellers.

Shopping malls, entertainment centres, diverse food and beverage outlets and new hospitality developments have expanded the city’s appeal, particularly within a five-kilometre radius over the past three to five years.

Colombo also offers experiences such as shipwreck diving, which Cinnamon Nature Trails, in collaboration with Cinnamon Life, is expected to launch in November. Golf and access to coastal destinations such as Bentota further enhance the city’s appeal for short breaks and extended stays.

“Colombo is open to so much more. You can do it in Colombo now, just like any other city,” Munasinghe said, emphasising the variety of experiences available to visitors.

He identified Australia as an important emerging market for the hotel group and said it is currently the third-largest source market for Cinnamon Life.

Munasinghe stressed that directly reaching potential travellers and improving connectivity between Sri Lanka and key source markets are essential to converting the country’s growing tourism offering into higher visitor arrivals. He also highlighted Colombo’s advantage in allowing tourists to combine a city stay with beach and other leisure experiences within a few hours’ travel.