Sri Lanka Tourism showcased its cultural attractions, wellness retreats and holiday options at a Kochi event aimed at strengthening ties with India’s travel industry
KOCHI: Sri Lanka Tourism has showcased the island nation’s travel experiences at a networking event in Kochi, bringing together Indian travel professionals, tourism representatives and media to explore closer cooperation.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) hosted the Sri Lanka Tourism B2B Roadshow and Networking Evening – Kerala Series 2026 at Ramada by Wyndham, Kochi. The programme combined destination presentations, business meetings, media engagement and cultural performances to promote Sri Lanka among Kerala’s travel industry.
Beaches, Heritage and Wellness in Focus
Sri Lanka offers a variety of holiday experiences, from coastal escapes and wildlife encounters to heritage attractions, Ayurveda treatments, wellness retreats and adventure activities.
The destination also caters to travellers seeking luxury stays, family holidays, honeymoons and spiritual journeys. Its proximity to India and air connectivity make it a potential choice for both short trips and longer vacations.
At the Kochi event, SLTPB presented a destination video highlighting the country’s landscapes, cultural attractions and tourism offerings.
Travel Professionals Explore New Opportunities
The roadshow’s B2B sessions allowed Indian travel agents and tour operators to meet Sri Lankan tourism partners. The discussions focused on exchanging market information, exploring travel itineraries and identifying opportunities to promote the destination.
A separate media networking session brought tourism representatives into contact with journalists and media professionals. The organisers aimed to support broader destination visibility and encourage more awareness of Sri Lanka among Indian audiences.
Officials and Industry Representatives Attend
Heshani Kaushalya, First Secretary (Commerce) at the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, delivered the welcome address. Sanjaya Niroshana, Managing Director of SLTPB, presented the destination’s tourism offerings and discussed the value of closer engagement with Indian travel trade partners.
Representatives from Kerala’s travel industry included Paulose K. Mathew of TAFI’s Kerala Chapter, former TAAI Kerala Chairman K. N. Shastry and Tourism Professionals Club Secretary Johnson Manish.
Arfaz Nuwaiz, Manager at SriLankan Airlines, also delivered an airline presentation accompanied by a promotional video to highlight travel connectivity.
Cultural Programme Highlights Shared Links
The event began with the national anthems of India and Sri Lanka, followed by the traditional lighting of the oil lamp and a token of appreciation ceremony.
Traditional Sri Lankan cultural performances added to the programme and highlighted the cultural connections between the two countries. The formal proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks by Shirani Herath, Assistant Director of SLTPB.
A group photograph, raffle draw and networking dinner gave participants further opportunities to interact and build professional relationships.
Continued Engagement with India’s Travel Market
The Kochi roadshow forms part of SLTPB’s wider outreach to India’s travel and tourism industry. By combining destination promotion with direct business meetings and media engagement, the initiative aims to expand cooperation with Kerala’s travel sector and create more opportunities for Indian visitors to explore Sri Lanka.
