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The BBC has selected Sri Lanka as the ninth best destination for 2025, giving further recognition to the country’s efforts to develop tourism. In announcing the winners of its Top 25 Destinations, the BBC said, “From its misty hilltop tea plantations and roaming wild elephants to its ancient temples and rolling surf, Sri Lanka is a country that ticks lots of boxes.

In April 2022, the former Prime Minister announced Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy, but new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake aims to rebuild the country’s fortunes after it was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and civil unrest.

The resilient island nation is hoping to get back on its feet through tourism. Its first seven-star hotel, Aviyana Private Chalets will be opened in Kandy, while the Aarunya Nature Resort has a new family villa that includes an oculus for stargazing. There’s a US$ 1 billion mega resort opening in Colombo, and the launch of Sri Lanka’s new airline Air Ceilão, which will fly as far as Europe and Australia. The nation also recently launched the Good Travel Seal initiative, which celebrates local businesses which have adopted sustainable practices.

Visitors looking for a cool location can take a legendary train ride into its mountainous interior, or travel to Colombo and Galle to discover a new generation of mixologists putting their spin on arrack, a 5th-century drink. The island has also opened the 300km Pekoe Trail, which takes hikers through tea plantations and villages in the Central Highlands. For those who wish to cover more ground, an innovative startup allows travellers to self-drive a tuk-tuk across the island, with the money going directly to the owner.”

Dominica topped the BBC’s “25 Best Places to Travel in 2025”, followed by Japan, Italy, Greenland, Wales, Canada, USA and Australia, with Panama taking the 10th place. This was the BBC’s first Top 25 Travel list.