This island nation launched an inclusive tourism campaign. Religious leaders shut it down. - LGBTQ Nation

"In September, the government tourism agency in Sri Lanka endorsed a proposal by an LGBTQ+ advocacy group to promote the island nation as an inclusive destination. The country has been racked by economic turmoil since 2019, with exploding foreign debt, massive budget deficits, and major food shortages. The prime minister declared the collapse of Sri Lanka's economy in 2022, and protests included demonstrators burning down the prime minister's official residence."

"Last week, the LGBTQ+ outreach campaign was officially withdrawn. 'Since this letter is withdrawn, you can infer that the government doesn't want Sri Lanka [to be] a holiday destination for LGBT travelers,' a senior government official told The Telegraph. The plan was assailed by leaders across the religious spectrum in Sri Lanka, including senior Buddhist monks and the head of the Catholic Church, who accused the government of promoting "new and unacceptable cultural practices.""

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority initially endorsed a proposal with LGBTQ+ group EQUAL GRAND to market the country as a "safe and welcoming" destination to attract foreign currency. The country has faced severe economic turmoil since 2019, including exploding foreign debt, huge budget deficits, food shortages, and a 2022 economic collapse that sparked violent protests. Religious leaders across Buddhism and Catholicism condemned the outreach plan, accusing it of promoting unacceptable cultural practices and immorality. Following the backlash, the government officially withdrew the LGBTQ+ outreach campaign and signaled reluctance to position Sri Lanka as a holiday destination for LGBT travelers.

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