Sri Lanka Goes Knocking on Five Tourism Doors
Sri Lanka took its tourism story directly to the travel trade across Australia and New Zealand, completing a nine-day journey through five cities and meeting more than 250 travel agents and tour operators along the way.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) organised the 2026 B2B Networking Series from 31 August to 9 September, covering Christchurch, Auckland, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. The programme brought together 50 representatives from Sri Lankan destination management companies, hotels and resort groups, giving them an opportunity to meet travel trade representatives directly and discuss new business opportunities.
The five-city programme was built around face-to-face B2B discussions, but it went beyond business meetings. Destination presentations, press conferences, media interviews, networking sessions, Q&As, cultural performances and raffle draws were also part of the programme, giving participants both a business and cultural introduction to Sri Lanka.
The journey began in Christchurch on 31 August, marking the first time Sri Lanka Tourism had conducted a B2B Networking Session in the New Zealand city. H.E. Prasanna Gamage, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to New Zealand, spoke about the importance of New Zealand travellers to Sri Lanka, while Dr Hamish Campbell, MP for Ilam, encouraged closer links between the two tourism industries. SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam outlined Sri Lanka’s tourism opportunities and new experiences.
Auckland followed on 1 September, where more than 50 travel agents and tour operators met the Sri Lankan delegation. Former Governor-General of New Zealand Sir Anand Satyanand attended as Chief Guest. Travel personalities Karena Bird and Kasey Bird spoke about their experiences in Sri Lanka, while TVNZ’s Scotty Stevenson brought a media perspective to the event.
The roadshow crossed to Australia on 3 September, with Sydney becoming its first stop. Australian travel trade representatives met Sri Lankan tourism stakeholders during a programme that included media interviews and a press conference featuring H.E. Yasoja Gunasekara, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia, the SLTPB Chairman and Ravindran V. of SriLankan Airlines.
Traveller Luana Soares Ostling also shared her experiences of Sri Lanka, while Buddhika Hewawasam highlighted the country’s tourism potential and the launch of a new public relations and digital campaign aimed at the Australian market.
Adelaide became another first for Sri Lanka Tourism on 7 September, hosting its inaugural B2B Networking programme in the city. Australian travel agents, media and social media representatives joined Sri Lankan tourism stakeholders at an event attended by Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe, H.E. Yasoja Gunasekara, SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam, Dennis Bunnik, Joint CEO of Bunnik Tours and former Chair of CATO, C.L. Gasnawage, Assistant Director Marketing (Australia & New Zealand), and Ravindran V. of SriLankan Airlines.
The event opened with the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Australia, followed by the traditional lighting of the oil lamp and a Magul Bera performance. Discussions highlighted tourism cooperation, air connectivity and opportunities for deeper links between the two markets.
The final stop was Perth on 9 September, where Australian travel trade representatives had another opportunity to meet Sri Lankan counterparts, exchange information and discuss future business prospects.
Media interviews and a press conference brought together senior representatives from Sri Lanka Tourism, SriLankan Airlines, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Australia and the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Western Australia.
Among those addressing the Perth programme were Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Kodithuwakku, H.E. Yasoja Gunasekara, SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and Ravindran V. Their discussions focused on strengthening tourism links, promoting Sri Lanka as a destination and improving air connectivity.
Across the five cities, the 50-member Sri Lankan delegation presented updated product portfolios and seasonal packages prepared for the Australian and New Zealand markets. More than 250 travel agents and tour operators were able to speak directly with representatives of Sri Lankan hotels, resorts and destination management companies, discussing itineraries, pricing, destination highlights and possible future cooperation.
Culture was also an important part of the journey. Traditional Sri Lankan dances, Magul Bera, oil-lamp ceremonies and destination videos brought the country’s identity into the tourism presentations, allowing the trade audience to experience something of Sri Lanka beyond its hotels and holiday packages.
The programme also gave a platform to people who had personally travelled in Sri Lanka, allowing them to share their experiences with the travel trade and add another perspective to the destination presentations.
For the SLTPB, the B2B Networking Series was intended to be more than a promotional exercise. The direct meetings created opportunities to develop partnerships and supplier relationships while opening discussions on itineraries, packages and future commercial cooperation.
From Christchurch and Auckland to Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, Sri Lanka used nine days and five cities to put its tourism industry directly in front of an important group of travel professionals — opening new conversations that can continue long after the roadshow ended.
