Ahmedabad, Gujarat | 19 June 2026: The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, successfully hosted an exclusive Travel Trade Roadshow and Networking Evening today at the Crowne Plaza Ahmedabad. The landmark event successfully brought together leading tourism stakeholders from Sri Lanka and Gujarat to explore new business opportunities and solidify bilateral tourism partnerships. This initiative forms part of Sri Lanka Tourism’s continued efforts to deepen engagement with the Indian travel trade and reinforce its position as one of the most preferred international destinations for Indian travellers. Following Sri Lanka Tourism’s strategic focus on high-potential regional markets, the successful Ahmedabad roadshow aimed to further strengthen industry relationships across Gujarat.
The prestigious gathering was attended by prominent industry leaders, including Mr. Prashant Madlani, Chairman, Gujarat Chapter of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI); Mr. Shreeram Patel, Hon. Secretary General of TAAI; Mr. Ronak Shah, National Managing Committee Member of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI); and Mr. Munjal Filler, President of the Tour Operators and Travel Agents Association of Gujarat (TAG). Representing the Sri Lankan delegation were Mr. Nalin Jayasundera, President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and Board Member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Mr. Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager – India, Bangladesh & Nepal of SriLankan Airlines; Suman Udhayakumaran, Sales Manager – Maharashtra and Gujarat of SriLankan Airlines; and Imthiyas Munshi, Sales Manager, FitsAir. Alongside distinguished members of the Indian travel trade and media, the event featured Sri Lankan travel trade partners representing 46 travel and tourism companies, marking a continued effort to deepen engagement with the Indian travel trade and reinforce Sri Lanka’s position as one of the most preferred international destinations for travelers from Gujarat.
India remains Sri Lanka’s largest source market for tourism and continues to play a vital role in the destination’s growth story. In 2025, Sri Lanka welcomed a record 2.3 million international visitors, with India contributing more than 531,000 arrivals, accounting for nearly 23% of total international tourist arrivals. Building on this momentum, Sri Lanka Tourism is targeting over 3 million international visitor arrivals in 2026. As one of India’s fastest-growing commercial centres, Ahmedabad has emerged as a significant outbound travel market, driven by rising disposable incomes, increasing international connectivity, and growing demand for leisure holidays, destination weddings, family travel, luxury experiences, wellness retreats, and MICE tourism. Recognising this immense potential, Sri Lanka Tourism continues to strengthen its engagement with travel professionals and industry stakeholders across Gujarat.
The program was organised to facilitate direct engagement and foster meaningful connections between tourism stakeholders from both destinations. The event featured a strong delegation of Sri Lankan tourism partners, including hotels, resorts, destination management companies, attractions, airlines, and tourism service providers. It provided Gujarat’s travel trade community with a valuable platform to engage directly with Sri Lankan suppliers, explore new travel products, and develop mutually beneficial business partnerships. The comprehensive itinerary included successful Business-to-Business (B2B) networking sessions, detailed destination presentations, one-to-one buyer-seller meetings, media interactions, vibrant Sri Lankan cultural performances, and an evening reception designed to maximize collaboration.
Commenting on the success of the event, Sri Lanka Tourism officials stated that Gujarat has emerged as one of India’s most promising outbound travel markets, with travellers increasingly seeking short-haul international destinations that offer diverse and enriching experiences. Through this roadshow, they successfully strengthened partnerships with the travel trade community, showcased Sri Lanka’s unique tourism offerings, and created new opportunities for collaboration and mutual growth.
Renowned for its pristine beaches, rich cultural heritage, wildlife experiences, scenic landscapes, luxury resorts, wellness retreats, and adventure tourism offerings, Sri Lanka continues to appeal to Indian travellers seeking a diverse range of experiences within easy reach. Strong air connectivity and convenient travel options further reinforce its position as an attractive and accessible international destination. By successfully bringing together tourism stakeholders from Sri Lanka and Gujarat, the Ahmedabad Roadshow has strengthened bilateral tourism ties, generated new business collaborations, and set the stage to support continued growth in visitor arrivals from the region.
