Latest News About Booking.com Sri Lanka

Here are the latest developments regarding Booking.com in Sri Lanka:

• Sri Lanka has discussed introducing local travel-booking platforms to challenge Booking.com's dominance. Government officials have argued that Booking.com pays little to no taxes and charges high commissions, prompting a push for local competition.[1][2][3]
• In early 2025, Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath indicated that several local platforms were being developed to register with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and expand beyond accommodation to include transport, guides, and other tourism services. The aim was to reduce reliance on Booking.com and improve market fairness; taxation discussions were ongoing but not presented as the immediate priority.[2][1]
• There has been some industry concern about the impact on SMEs if Booking.com is suddenly displaced without robust local alternatives, highlighting the need for multiple platforms and a measured rollout to protect small hoteliers and agents.[2]

Notes and context:

• Coverage comes mainly from Sri Lankan news outlets and industry discussions in 2025, tying regulatory pressure to calls for fair taxation and competitive practices in travel tech.[3][1][2]
• A related discussion in Sri Lanka’s media suggests a broader push to support homegrown platforms that can integrate hotels, transportation, and other tourism services into a single ecosystem, potentially reducing dependence on international OTAs like Booking.com.[2]

If you’d like, I can pull the most recent articles or summarize perspectives from hotel associations and tourism regulators to give you a clearer view of the regulatory timeline and what platforms are currently in development.