Five Cities, Nine Days, 250 Agents: Sri Lanka Tourism’s Biggest Roadshow Yet Through Australia and New Zealand

Five Cities, Nine Days, 250 Agents: Sri Lanka Tourism’s Biggest Roadshow Yet Through Australia and New Zealand

Image Source : www.traveltalkasia.com

Sri Lanka Tourism has completed one of its most extensive trade engagements in Australia and New Zealand, taking a 50-strong delegation through five cities over nine days and placing Sri Lankan hotels, destination management companies and resort groups directly in front of more than 250 travel agents and tour operators.

Organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), the B2B Networking Series travelled from Christchurch and Auckland to Sydney, Adelaide and Perth between 31 August and 9 September 2026. The programme, reported by Travel Talk Asia and supported by the SLTPB, ranked among the largest and most sustained trade engagements Sri Lanka Tourism has staged across these important regional markets.

Rather than relying solely on conventional promotional material, the series created an opportunity for tourism suppliers to discuss itineraries, pricing, seasonal packages and destination highlights directly with the professionals who advise travellers and assemble holiday programmes.

Christchurch opened a new chapter in New Zealand

The roadshow opened in Christchurch on 31 August, marking the first occasion on which Sri Lanka Tourism had held a B2B session on New Zealand’s South Island. The decision to begin in Christchurch demonstrated an effort to extend engagement beyond the larger metropolitan market of Auckland and to recognise the importance of regional travel networks.

H.E. Mr. Prasanna Gamage, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to New Zealand, underlined the value of Kiwi travellers to Sri Lanka, while Dr. Hamish Campbell, MP for Ilam, called for closer ties between the two tourism industries.

SLTPB Chairman Mr. Buddhika Hewawasam introduced new Sri Lankan travel experiences to the assembled agents and operators. The formal business programme was complemented by cultural performances, a question-and-answer session and raffle draws, allowing the gathering to combine commercial discussion with a presentation of Sri Lanka’s living traditions.

Caption: AI-generated illustration based on the source image, representing the Christchurch stop in the Sri Lanka Tourism B2B Networking Series.

Auckland brought travel stories into the conversation

The following day, the delegation continued to Auckland, where more than 50 agents and operators joined the programme. Former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand attended as Chief Guest, adding an important New Zealand perspective to an event focused on closer commercial and cultural links.

Travel personalities Karena and Kasey Bird shared first-hand stories from their visits to Sri Lanka, giving the audience practical insight into the experiences available across the island. Their contribution placed personal travel memories alongside the structured information presented by tourism suppliers.

TVNZ’s Scotty Stevenson also offered a media perspective, broadening the discussion beyond product promotion and into the ways in which destinations are communicated to potential visitors. The Auckland session therefore connected trade expertise, public storytelling and institutional engagement within a single forum.

Sydney introduced a new Australian campaign

The series reached Sydney on 3 September, where the programme included media interviews and a press conference attended by H.E. Ms. Yasoja Gunasekara, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia; SLTPB Chairman Mr. Buddhika Hewawasam; and Mr. Ravindran V. of SriLankan Airlines.

Ms. Luana Soares Ostling shared her experiences of travelling in Sri Lanka, providing a personal perspective on the destination and its appeal to Australian visitors. Her contribution was followed by the unveiling of a new PR and Digital Campaign for the Australian market by Mr. Hewawasam.

The Sydney programme was significant because it connected destination promotion with communications strategy and air travel considerations. The presence of SriLankan Airlines also placed connectivity within the broader conversation, as practical flight options remain an important factor when agents develop itineraries for Australian customers.

For travel advisers, direct discussions with Sri Lankan suppliers can assist in matching different types of travellers with appropriate accommodation, touring arrangements and seasonal offers, whether the proposed journey is centred on heritage, wildlife, beaches, hill-country landscapes or cultural experiences.

Caption: AI-generated illustration based on the source image, representing the Sydney media and trade engagement.

Adelaide marked another first

On 7 September, Adelaide hosted its first-ever Sri Lanka Tourism B2B programme. The event opened with both national anthems, followed by the traditional lighting of the oil lamp and a Magul Bera performance.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Mr. Ruwan Ranasinghe led the Adelaide programme alongside H.E. Ms. Yasoja Gunasekara, SLTPB Chairman Mr. Buddhika Hewawasam, Mr. Dennis Bunnik, Mr. C.L. Gasnawage and Mr. Ravindran V.

The Adelaide gathering reflected the ceremonial character that was woven through the wider roadshow, while retaining a clear trade focus. Traditional music and ritual were not presented as separate entertainment but as part of the way Sri Lanka introduced its national identity, heritage and hospitality to industry partners.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of stronger tourism ties and improved air links between Australia and Sri Lanka. For South Australian travel businesses, the first dedicated programme provided a new channel through which Sri Lankan suppliers could present their portfolios and respond to market requirements.

Perth concluded the nine-day programme

The final stop took place in Perth on 9 September. Deputy Minister of Tourism Mr. Ruwan Ranasinghe was joined by Mr. Janitha Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation; H.E. Ms. Yasoja Gunasekara; SLTPB Chairman Mr. Buddhika Hewawasam; Mr. Ravindran V.; and the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Western Australia.

The participants collectively pressed the case for stronger tourism ties and improved air links, bringing the roadshow to a conclusion in a city with an established Sri Lankan community and substantial connections to the island.

The Perth gathering also reinforced the practical purpose of the series: to move beyond general destination awareness and establish conversations that can influence future travel programmes, supplier relationships and booking decisions.

A trade engagement designed for lasting partnerships

What distinguished the B2B Networking Series was the depth and continuity of its engagement. A delegation comprising destination management companies, hotels and resort groups arrived with updated portfolios and seasonal packages developed specifically for Australian and New Zealand travellers.

Over nine days, the representatives discussed itineraries, pricing and destination highlights directly with the people who sell holidays. That face-to-face contact allowed agents and tour operators to ask detailed questions, compare products and better understand how Sri Lankan experiences could be integrated into different travel plans.

Traditional dance, drumming and oil-lamp ceremonies were incorporated at each stop, ensuring that the commercial programme remained connected to Sri Lanka’s cultural character. Destination presentations and business meetings were therefore accompanied by a visible expression of the country’s heritage.

The SLTPB treated the roadshow as the beginning of lasting partnerships rather than a one-off promotional campaign. With more than 250 travel agents and tour operators engaged across five cities, the series established a substantial foundation for continued communication between Sri Lankan tourism businesses and the Australian and New Zealand travel trade.

Caption: AI-generated illustration based on the source image, depicting a Sri Lanka Tourism B2B networking evening in Australia.

What the roadshow means for travellers

For Australian and New Zealand travellers planning a holiday in Sri Lanka, the most immediate value of the roadshow may be found in the stronger knowledge now available within local travel networks. Agents who have met Sri Lankan suppliers directly are better positioned to explain accommodation options, seasonal conditions, transport arrangements and the variety of experiences available across the island.

This may be particularly useful for travellers planning a return visit to Sri Lanka, families seeking a carefully organised itinerary, or visitors wishing to combine cultural sites, wildlife, beaches, tea country and contemporary hospitality within one journey.

The roadshow also indicates that Sri Lanka Tourism is placing greater emphasis on sustained industry relationships in Australia and New Zealand. As those connections develop, the country’s tourism offering can be presented with greater detail and accuracy, while local travel professionals gain more direct access to the suppliers responsible for delivering the experience.

The five-city programme has consequently served both a promotional and institutional purpose. It has presented Sri Lanka to the region, while also strengthening the professional links required to turn interest into well-informed travel planning. For readers following Sri Lankan developments through eLanka, the initiative represents a positive sign of continued engagement between Sri Lanka and the wider Australian and New Zealand community.

This article was written based on the source https://www.traveltalkasia.com/2026/10/01/five-cities-nine-days-250-agents-sri-lanka-tourism-takes-the-roadshow-down-under/, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.

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