Sancharaka Udawa 2026 kicks off with focus on tourism revival

Sri Lanka’s flagship travel and tourism exhibition, Sancharaka Udawa 2026, was officially inaugurated yesterday at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre of BMICH, bringing together hundreds of tourism stakeholders in a renewed push to strengthen the country’s visitor economy and expand global market access.

The 13th edition of the expo, organised by the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), was inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, alongside Labour Minister and Finance Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando and Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe.

Organised by the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), 

Addressing the gathering, Dr Amarasuriya outlined the Government’s vision of building a sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism industry.

She stressed that Sri Lanka’s tourism sector must remain resilient and adaptable in the face of environmental, political, economic, and global challenges, while positioning the country more competitively in the international tourism landscape.

The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of strengthening Sri Lanka’s global brand identity as a unique travel destination and highlighted the need to develop human capital within the industry to support long-term growth.

Highlighting the role of education in preparing future industry professionals, she noted that ongoing education reforms should provide young people with multiple career pathways and greater exposure to sectors such as tourism. 

Dr. Amarasuriya called for closer collaboration between educational institutions and the tourism industry would be essential in building a skilled workforce.

The Prime Minister also insisted on the importance of strengthening domestic tourism and enhancing the overall visitor experience, noting that sustained collaboration between the Government and the private sector would be critical to ensuring the future growth and competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

The two-day exhibition features more than 250 exhibitors and over 300 stalls representing hotels, tour operators, transport providers, destination management companies, educational institutions, and other tourism-related businesses.

A key highlight of this year’s event is the participation of foreign hosted buyers for the first time, offering local tourism operators direct business-to-business engagement opportunities with international travel partners as Sri Lanka seeks to accelerate post-crisis tourism recovery.

Organisers said the exhibition also places strong emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, capacity building, and youth engagement, with complimentary stalls allocated to tourism-related Government institutions and academic partnerships established with universities to encourage student participation.

Major private sector players have also backed the event, including United Motors and Araliya Group of Hotels as diamond sponsors, while Hilton Colombo serves as the official hospitality partner and Mount Lavinia Hotel as the catering partner.

The exhibition, which runs through today, includes business networking sessions, industry workshops, and panel discussions aimed at strengthening collaboration across the sector.

Industry stakeholders expect the event to generate fresh partnerships and bookings for regional tourism operators, while reinforcing Sri Lanka’s positioning as a competitive and diverse destination in the global travel market.