Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is showing striking resilience as bookings rebound rapidly after Cyclone Ditwah, with luxury hotels and integrated resorts emerging as the strongest drivers of the recovery.
Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector is returning to normal at a faster-than-expected pace following Cyclone Ditwah, with industry leaders confirming that disruptions were short-lived and confidence among travelers is steadily improving.
These observations were shared at a media briefing held this week at the Crystal Lounge at Nüwa, City of Dreams Sri Lanka, during the announcement of the upcoming ‘One Love’ Reggae Festival. Industry representatives emphasized that the impact of the cyclone on tourism operations was limited and well managed.
Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Chief Operating Officer Kamal Munasinghe acknowledged that there was a brief slowdown in forward bookings immediately after the adverse weather. However, he noted that booking trends have already stabilized over the past few days, pointing to a positive outlook for the peak winter season. According to Munasinghe, the speed of recovery has reinforced confidence in Sri Lanka tourism among both operators and international travelers.
“We are very optimistic for tourism in Sri Lanka,” Munasinghe said, highlighting how swiftly recovery measures were implemented. He explained that critical infrastructure was restored in a short period, with road access to Kandy reopened within days. Munasinghe also confirmed that Cinnamon’s key properties in affected regions, including Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, and Trinco Blu by Cinnamon, remained fully operational. “When we entered the hotels, we felt like nothing had happened. It was normal operation,” he said.
The media briefing also underscored growing momentum in Sri Lanka’s luxury tourism segment. A senior spokesperson for City of Dreams Sri Lanka addressed earlier doubts about the island’s readiness for ultra-luxury tourism, stating that recent performance has clearly challenged those assumptions.
The integrated resort, which includes the Nüwa hotel and casino operations, has reportedly attracted strong interest from international markets, particularly India and China. Casino activity has generated notable foreign currency inflows, while the property has quickly established itself as a high-profile destination. Since its launch, City of Dreams Sri Lanka has hosted Bollywood celebrities and internationally renowned cricketers, reinforcing the appeal of luxury entertainment tourism in Sri Lanka.
Industry leaders noted that the rapid recovery following Cyclone Ditwah reflects not only effective crisis management but also the underlying strength of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, positioning it well for sustained growth in the months ahead.
