Economy

Sri Lanka among top summer destinations for UAE travellers – New Emirates report

Published

7 months ago

July 11, 2025

Sri Lanka is among the top three summer destinations for travel in July and August, according to the latest booking data of Emirates.

Emirates reports that Sri Lanka has seen a 32 percent increase in flight searches, and as a clear favourite for its rich cultural tapestry, pristine beaches, ‘tea country’ and affordable luxury experiences.

As international travel reaches a fever pitch this summer, Emirates’ latest analysis of global booking data* and search patterns reveals where travellers are dreaming of and escaping to in July and August, with a shift towards new cultural experiences and off-the-beaten-track locales.

Flight searches for summer travel have climbed 7 percent compared to last year, with France leading the charge, experiencing a remarkable 35 percent increase in outbound travel searches, followed by Ireland, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are also seeing strong momentum, highlighting robust travel intent across key markets.

In 2025, a few breakout stars have emerged as the top summer destinations for Emirates, and they’re largely concentrated in the Far East, Indian Ocean and Europe.

In the UAE, Emirates has seen a 13 percent rise in flight searches overall, and airline has witnessed a year-on-year increase for searches to destinations like Sri Lanka, Jordan, France, India, Lebanon, and Morrocco.

Travellers from the US flying Emirates have been increasingly focusing their searches on African points like Egypt, Kenya and South Africa, while UK travellers are searching 12 percent more than last year on emirates.com, with increasing interest to far flung destinations like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

Source – Dailymirror

Economy

Galle ranks fifth among top 10 honeymoon destinations for 2026

Published

6 days ago

January 20, 2026

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Galle has been placed fifth among the world’s top 10 honeymoon destinations for 2026 in the latest rankings released by Tripadvisor.

The ranking forms part of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026 and is based solely on the volume and quality of traveller reviews submitted over a 12-month period.

Tripadvisor said the list reflects destinations that consistently received strong feedback from honeymoon travellers worldwide.

Beach and island destinations dominate the upper end of the 2026 rankings. Bali secured the top position, followed by Mauritius and the Maldives, with St. Lucia ranked fourth. Galle placed fifth, ahead of several established long-haul honeymoon favourites.

Tripadvisor noted that Galle’s appeal lies in its blend of heritage and coastal experiences. Founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Galle Fort remains a key attraction, with preserved ramparts, historic buildings, and walkable streets.

Economy

Sri Lanka Postal Service achieves record revenue

Published

2 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

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Sri Lanka’s postal service has recorded a remarkable turnaround in 2025, surpassing revenue targets set by the Treasury and signalling a major revival after years of stagnation.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said the Department of Posts generated Rs. 13.1 billion last year, exceeding the revenue target assigned for 2025.

He highlighted that the past year also saw wide-ranging reforms, including large-scale recruitments, confirmations of long-serving staff, infrastructure upgrades, and investments in technology and transport to improve efficiency and service delivery.

According to Sathkumara, 378 Sub-Postmasters received permanent appointments in June 2025—the first confirmations for the category since 2020. In September, the appointments of 1,000 Postal Assistants were regularised, marking the first such confirmations since 2022.

The Postmaster General added that recruitment is underway to hire 600 Postal Service Officers through open competition, with appointments expected in February 2026.

Economy

Sri Lanka ranked most affordable place to live or retire in 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 11, 2026

admin

International Living magazine has identified the five most affordable places to live or retire in 2026, which scored the highest in the cost-of-living category of its 2026 Global Retirement Index.

It evaluated retirement destinations across climate, healthcare, visa and lifestyle, along with cost.

Sri Lanka ranked top of the list due to affordable local transportation and easy-to-obtain retirement visas. A couple can live extravagantly on $2,200 (£1,637) a month, or on $1,000 (£744) with some budgeting.

In second place is Vietnam, with the average cost of living in Hanoi sitting at under $1,800 (£1,339) per month. Rent is low and healthcare is affordable.

Thailand was ranked third, because a couple can live comfortably for around $2,000 (£1,488) a month in cities such as Chiang Mai or coastal towns such as Hua Hin. These both have affordable housing, and accessible services and transportation.

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