Sri Lankan authorities are planning to open up the north of the country and backpackers looking to visit the region could first get
worldwide travel insurance.
The development is to be built across the Kalpitiya archipelago that covers 14 islands north of Colombo, the national capital, and will span around 4,000 acres offering a marina and a collection of hotels.
Much of the land north of the capital has been devastated by the country's 26-year civil war, but authorities are now keen to maximise the region's tourism potential.
Faiszer Musthapha, Sri Lanka's deputy tourism minister, said: "We are sure that tourism will play a key role in regenerating the economy of the country and will in particular benefit the people of the north and the east."
The wounds of the civil war remain fresh as the fighting ended only a few weeks ago, but tourism in the region could increase in the coming months and years.
Travel insurance of some kind should be bought before backpackers head overseas, regardless of where they're going, according to Gapyear.com.
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