Sri Lanka to introduce Digital Tourism concept and planning to launch a promotion program to attract digital tourists to the country. Government is also planning to introduce a long term visa category for digital tourists.
People who use digital technology for their livelihood and travel around the world as tourists are called Digital tourists. Facilitating such tourists has been a growing trend in the tourism industry. Digital travellers often stay in restaurants, public libraries and other such venues and provide their services online through devices with Internet access. The availability of high speed internet connections for communication, long term visas, affordable accommodation, tax exemption for earnings etc. are the main factors to attract them.
By attracting digital tourists to Sri Lanka and providing them with the facilities they need to stay longer, the country will be able to earn more foreign exchange. Accordingly the Sri Lanka Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of tourism to launch a promotion program by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to attract digital tourists to the country and to introduce a long term visa category for digital tourists.