The Rebirth of Sri Lanka.

The article discusses the tourist industry in Sri Lanka where, a year after the tsunami, luxury-seeking tourists are rediscovering this lush, gorgeous island. Two years ago, Sri Lanka seemed poised for mass tourism, as vacationers began to arrive from abroad. In 2004, some 30,000 Sri Lankans died in the tsunami and villages were devastated. Neither the tsunami nor violence in norther Sri Lanka, in which suspected Tamil insurgents killed police officers, has halted hotel openings. The author considers whether Sri Lanka can adapt to being an intimate destination, rather than a place for broader tourism. INSET: MARCO POLO, AND NOW YOU.