Sri Lanka Tourism goes for AI and digital transformation

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) hosted the national celebration of World Tourism Day 2026 in Colombo on Friday, under the global theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”

The event brought together representatives from the Government, tourism industry, private sector, academia, and technology and innovation communities. The programme highlighted the transformative role of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping the tourism sector, enhancing visitor experiences and creating new opportunities for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

A key highlight of the celebration was the Tourism Start-Up Competition 2026, conducted on the theme “AI-Driven Innovation for the Future of Tourism.” The competition attracted 52 applications across two categories – Tertiary Level and Commercial Level – showcasing the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Sri Lanka’s youth and tourism innovators.

Following a rigorous evaluation process, 25 applications were shortlisted for the final stage, where participants presented their AI-powered tourism solutions before an expert panel. Ultimately, six winners from each category were selected in recognition of their innovative contributions to the future of tourism. The winners were formally honoured during the celebration, providing them with a platform to showcase their solutions and inspire greater innovation within the sector.

The national celebration underscored the importance of fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem that enables tourism stakeholders to adopt emerging technologies. By embracing AI and digital transformation, Sri Lanka Tourism aims to strengthen competitiveness, improve destination management, enhance service delivery and create personalised visitor experiences.

The programme emphasised collaboration among the public sector, private enterprises, academia, and the technology community, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s commitment to building a sustainable, digitally enabled tourism industry.