Sri Lanka’s Sigiriya crowned most welcoming city for 2025
The Morning: Sri Lanka’s Sigiriya has been crowned the world’s most welcoming city for 2025 by ‘Booking.com’, based on over 360 million of its verified customer reviews.
As part of the thirteenth edition of the Traveller Review Awards, Booking.com unveiled the 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth for 2025, along with tips and recommendations to help travellers fully embrace the charm of these unique destinations.
Backed by over 360 million verified customer reviews on Booking.com, the featured accommodations are celebrated for consistently delivering outstanding hospitality.
Accordingly, Sigiriya is ranked first in the list which also includes Cazorla in Spain and Urubici in Brazil among other locations.
Revealing its 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth for 2025, Booking.com states the following about Sigiriya, Sri Lanka:
“Located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle,’ Sigiriya is a must-see destination that seamlessly combines natural splendour with deep history. The iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers breath-taking views and highlights the architectural brilliance of ancient Sri Lanka. In the late fifth century, King Kashyapa established his royal capital here, crowning the summit with an elaborate palace adorned with vibrant frescoes. Visitors can immerse themselves in the nearby village, renowned for its fabrics and handicrafts, including batiks (fabrics with ornate designs traditionally created using wax), ornamental pots, and handloom textiles. The lush landscapes of Minneriya National Park are also famous for its spectacular wild elephant gatherings. From conquering the ascent to the fortress to embracing the tranquillity of village life, Sigiriya presents an unforgettable blend of adventure and serenity.”
OSL take:
Sri Lanka continues to attract global attention as a must visit tourist destination giving a further impetus to the steadily growing tourism industry in the country. The steady growth in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has resulted in the industry becoming a key revenue generator to the country. The ongoing overall expansion in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has in-turn resulted in a growth in the country’s business/investment opportunities in the industry. These business/investment opportunities range from the development of infrastructure and supplementary infrastructure facilities to meet the growing requirements of the expanding industry as well as in key sectors like in the leisure and hospitality sectors. The increasing business potential in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is evident by the evolving tourism concepts in the country as well as the interest shown in Sri Lanka by international leisure and hospitality brands. Given these positive developments, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the many business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and related sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/2025021/Z_1 |