Will Sri Lanka Tourism's Roadshows in India Increase Visitor Arrivals?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry is enhancing promotions in India.
- Roadshows are scheduled in Madurai, Coimbatore, and Chennai.
- Events aim to attract more visitors and strengthen bilateral relations.
- The delegation includes over 40 stakeholders from the Sri Lankan tourism sector.
- Economic growth challenges could affect tourism prospects.
New Delhi, Oct 5 (NationPress) The Ministry of Tourism in Sri Lanka is actively enhancing its promotional strategies aimed at Indian travelers through a series of roadshows and networking events in southern India next week. This initiative seeks to boost visitor numbers and fortify tourism relations between the two nations, as reported.
Roadshows are set to occur in Madurai on October 6, Coimbatore on October 8, and Chennai on October 10, according to a report from Mawrata News.
The events are being organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), aimed at showcasing Sri Lanka as a year-round destination catering to all types of travelers.
These roadshows are focused on drawing more visitors from southern India while simultaneously strengthening bilateral ties. They will emphasize the island’s vibrant tourism sector, diverse attractions, resilience, and consistent growth.
The delegation, spearheaded by Vijitha Herath, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, along with Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, includes officials from SLTPB and SLCB, along with over 40 stakeholders from the Sri Lankan tourism industry, who will participate in the events in Tamil Nadu.
This group consists of representatives from Destination Management Companies (both leisure and MICE), leading hotels and resorts, tour operators, and various tourism-related service providers from Sri Lanka.
During the roadshows, industry stakeholders will engage in B2B interactions with their Indian counterparts in each city. Each event is anticipated to attract over 200 participants, including Indian travel agents, key industry figures, and media members, as noted in the report.
Sri Lanka finds itself at a pivotal moment, with its outlook for 2026 being complicated by external factors. Economic growth is projected to decelerate to 3.3 percent as the United States imposes a 20 percent tariff on essential Sri Lankan exports, according to a recent report.