Sri Lanka has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing and most sought-after wellness destination for 2026, recording the highest year-on-year increase in traveller interest globally. The island has outpaced established wellness destinations such as Australia, Morocco, England, Spain, Nepal and Thailand.
The recognition, featured in BookRetreats.com’s State of Retreats 2026 report and the Time Out Worldwide report, follows a year in which international demand for wellness experiences in Sri Lanka doubled. The achievement has been welcomed by the local tourism industry as recognition not only of the island’s natural healing environment, but also of years of investment in developing a credible and internationally competitive wellness tourism sector.
For Santani Wellness, the recognition has an especially significant meaning. Located within a 116-acre former tea estate and surrounding forest in the Kandy mountains, the 22-key resort opened in 2016 as Sri Lanka’s first purpose-built luxury wellness resort. It is widely regarded as one of the pioneers that helped establish modern wellness tourism as a distinct part of Sri Lanka’s tourism offering.
The global recognition comes as Santani marks its tenth anniversary, providing a significant milestone for a resort that spent a decade helping shape a tourism category that was largely absent when it first opened.
A Decade Spent Building a New Tourism Category
When the concept of Santani was first developed, Sri Lanka’s tourism identity was centred predominantly on its beaches, wildlife and cultural heritage. Wellness had yet to emerge as a major pillar of the country’s international tourism proposition.
Although Ayurveda had long been part of Sri Lanka’s traditional health and healing heritage, it was generally presented as an additional hotel or resort service rather than as a primary reason for international travellers to visit the island.
Santani’s arrival marked a shift in that approach, helping position wellness as a complete travel experience built around health, nature, mindful living and long-term wellbeing.
Santani’s founding philosophy challenged the conventional thinking of the time. It was built on the belief that the next major wave in global travel would be driven not by more sightseeing, but by a growing desire for genuine restoration. Sri Lanka, with its centuries-old Ayurvedic medical tradition, Buddhist philosophy, diverse climate and landscapes, and naturally warm hospitality, was seen as uniquely positioned to meet that emerging demand.
For more than a decade, Santani has sought to redefine contemporary wellbeing through its concept of Adaptive Wellness — an approach centred on addressing underlying causes rather than treating isolated symptoms such as chronic stress, disrupted sleep and exhaustion.
Combining the principles of Ayurveda with modern science, the resort’s preventive and personalised approach is based on the understanding that modern life often moves faster than the human mind and body can naturally adapt. By addressing the interconnected pressures of contemporary living, Santani aims to help guests build greater resilience and develop healthier ways of navigating the demands of everyday life.
Over the years, Santani has earned a range of international accolades spanning wellness, architecture, design and sustainable hospitality, while becoming one of Sri Lanka’s most frequently recognised properties in the global wellness travel industry.
Its international recognition includes being named by TIME among the World’s Greatest Places, featured in Forbes’ Most Unusual Hotels in the World, and highlighted in leading spa and wellness publications including Tatler and Vogue. Santani was also selected for the prestigious Oscars “Everyone Wins” Nominee Gift Bag in both 2025 and 2026, further expanding its international profile.
Bally’s Colombo Strengthens Luxury Gaming Presence with Successful Super Baccarat Tournament 2026
Bally’s Colombo has successfully concluded its Super Baccarat Tournament 2026, reinforcing its position as a leading luxury gaming and entertainment destination in Sri Lanka. Held from 15 to 18 July, the four-day event brought together baccarat enthusiasts from across the region, combining competitive gameplay with premium hospitality and international-standard event management.
Designed to appeal to both experienced players and newcomers, the tournament showcased Bally’s Colombo’s focus on delivering sophisticated gaming experiences within a premium entertainment environment. Multiple competitive tables drew strong participation throughout the event, creating an energetic atmosphere as contestants competed for exclusive rewards while enjoying the property’s facilities and hospitality.
The tournament reached its final stage on 18 July, with five finalists battling through an intense championship round. The closely fought finale tested the participants’ skill, strategy and composure, culminating in an engaging conclusion that reflected the growing interest in competitive baccarat across the region.
Bally’s Colombo said the event was conducted with a strong focus on professionalism, transparency and fair play, reaffirming its commitment to providing a secure and enjoyable gaming environment. The successful organisation of the tournament also demonstrated the property’s capability to stage large-scale gaming events capable of attracting both local and international participants.
Feedback from guests was similarly positive, with participants highlighting the quality of the organisation, sophisticated atmosphere and level of service throughout the four-day event. The response reflects Bally’s Colombo’s continued efforts to develop distinctive entertainment experiences that go beyond traditional gaming.
Following the success of the Super Baccarat Tournament 2026, Bally’s Colombo plans to expand its event calendar with further international-standard tournaments, exclusive promotions and premium entertainment experiences in the months ahead.
A Decade in the Making: How Santani Helped Put Sri Lanka on the World Wellness Map in 2026
