Sri Lanka Tourism Expo 2025 brings together youth, SMEs and international experts

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath

Sri Lanka Tourism Expo will officially inaugurate tomorrow, (27) at One Galle Face with the Colombo Travel Mart, organised for the third consecutive time in partnership with SLAITO. This business-to-business and business-to-consumer exhibition will feature around 75 stalls, showcasing everything from hotels and inbound tour operators to eco-tourism providers and cultural tourism experiences. It will serve as a networking platform where local businesses can engage with foreign buyers, forging partnerships that boost inbound tourism. The opening ceremony will be graced by Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinge, High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka David Pine, SLTDA and SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam, SLITHM and SLCB Chairman Dheera Hettiarachi, and UNWTO officials highlighting both local leadership and international support.

Sri Lanka is set to celebrate World Tourism Day 2025 with one of the most ambitious and wide-ranging series of events the industry has seen in recent years. Organised under the global UNWTO theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, the program reflects the country’s determination to place its youth, SMEs, and academic excellence at the centre of tourism’s future. From competitions in the provinces to international conferences at BMICH, this year’s Expo marks not just a celebration but a reimagining of Sri Lanka’s role in global tourism. The initiative is jointly organised under the leadership of Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Minister Vijitha Herath by the Tourism Ministry, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM), the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), as well as the Alumni Association of Tourism Economics & Hospitality Management (AATEHM) and the Sustainable Tourism Unit (STU) of the University of Colombo.

The collaboration itself is a reflection of the multi-stakeholder approach Sri Lanka is adopting to build resilience, promote innovation, and prepare the next generation of tourism leaders.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Expo has become a recognised platform for showcasing the country’s talent, creativity, and industry potential. Since its inception, it has combined professional competitions, knowledge-sharing, and business networking in ways that have left lasting impressions on both participants and audiences. The first Expo in 2021, held at One Galle Face Mall, set the tone by bringing the energy of the hospitality industry into a public space. Hoteliers from leading establishments took part in food and beverage competitions, testing their skills in cocktail-making, cocktail preparation, and live cooking contests. These events were not just spectacles; they highlighted the artistry and professionalism of Sri Lanka’s hospitality workforce, drawing large crowds and engaging the public with the industry in a celebratory way. 

In 2022, the Expo returned with even greater ambition. Once again hosted at One Galle Face, it expanded its program to include the Colombo Travel Mart, organised in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO). This marked a turning point, as the Expo began to serve not only as a stage for showcasing talent but also as a serious platform for business-to-business networking and industry growth. Travel agents, tour operators, and hoteliers connected strategic foresight and collaboration across sectors. With international partners, underlining Sri Lanka’s potential to attract investment and build market linkages. The 2022 edition also featured panel discussions, where academics, policymakers, and private-sector leaders addressed contemporary issues in tourism. These dialogues set the groundwork for what has now become a central feature of the Tourism Expo. 

The recognition that tourism requires not only creative and operational excellence, but also strategic collaboration has been central to the Sri Lanka Tourism Expo. Together, the 2021 and 2022 Expos created a strong foundation. They demonstrated the value of bringing competitions, fairs, business linkages, and policy dialogue under one umbrella. These experiences have directly informed the 2025 edition, which now integrates youth through school competitions, entrepreneurs through SME awareness programs, and international expertise through the research conference and leaders’ summit.

By revisiting its past and scaling up its ambition, the Sri Lanka Tourism Expo 2025 carries forward this legacy, aiming to position Sri Lanka as a destination where talent, innovation, and collaboration converge to shape the future of tourism.

Grassroots competitions across provinces 

The program commenced on 1 September, with the provincial rounds of the All-Island School Tourism Club Competitions. Conducted in partnership with SLITHM, these competitions brought together enthusiastic students from all nine provinces to showcase their talents in culinary arts, food and beverage service, housekeeping, and tourism knowledge. The venues spanned the island: SLITHM Jaffna for the Northern Province, SLITHM Kurunegala for the North Western, SLITHM Ratnapura for Sabaragamuwa, SLITHM Bandarawela for Uva, Mindada Hotel Ampara for the Eastern Province, SLITHM Kandy for the Central Province, SLITHM Koggala for the Southern Province, SLITHM Colombo for the Western Province, and SLITHM Anuradhapura for the North Central Province. These competitions were designed not only to identify winners but to expose students to the hospitality industry at an early stage, instilling in them both skills and aspirations. Organisers have emphasised that tourism must be built on a foundation of human capital, and this begins with youth engagement at grassroots level. As one of the reports highlighted, the competitions were a “talent hunt” and an “awareness drive”, bringing tourism to schools and rural communities where the sector is often undervalued or overlooked. 

SME awareness and provincial empowerment 

Running parallel to the student competitions were SME awareness programs, conducted in collaboration with the SLTDA. These sessions aimed to strengthen small and medium enterprises in tourism, helping them transition into formalised structures, improve quality standards, and better integrate with national strategies. SMEs form the backbone of Sri Lanka’s tourism offerings, ranging from guesthouses and homestays to transport operators and local guides. This effort is vital for inclusive growth. The Colombo SME Awareness Program will take place on 2 October, at BMICH, coinciding with the International Tourism Leaders’ Summit, ensuring that the voices of small operators are heard alongside policymakers and global leaders.

Sri Lanka Tourism Job Fair and Career Expo

On 28 September, the spotlight shifts to the Sri Lanka Tourism Job Fair and Career Expo, also at One Galle Face. The job fair and career expo will open under the auspices of the Minister of Labour Minister and Economic Development Deputy Minister. Now in its third year, the fair connects aspiring young professionals with leading employers in hospitality and tourism. The event includes interviews, career guidance sessions, and workshops aimed at equipping students and job seekers with pathways into the industry. With youth unemployment still a pressing concern, the job fair offers a practical response to bridging education and employment.

International Tourism Research Conference and school competitions

On 1 October, Colombo will host the 10th International Tourism Research Conference (ITRC) at BMICH. This year’s conference is particularly significant, with over 30 international professors and scholars expected to attend. Research papers will explore a wide range of themes under the umbrella of sustainable tourism transformation, from destination resilience to digital innovation and inclusive growth. The conference will be inaugurated by Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, a key figure linking academia with industry. For many, the ITRC is the intellectual heart of the Expo, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s strategies are informed by both global insights and local realities.

On the same day, the All-Island School Tourism Club Competition Grand Finale will be held at Waters Edge, bringing together about 300 finalists from across the provinces. This event to be  graced by SLITHM and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Chairman Dheera Hettiarachchi, is expected to showcase the very best of the country’s youth talent, underscoring the Expo’s commitment to nurturing future leaders.

International Tourism Leaders’ Summit

The celebrations culminate on 2 October, with the International Tourism Leaders’ Summit (ITLS) at BMICH. This year marks the 10th edition of the summit, a platform that consistently brings together global thinkers, policymakers, and industry experts. The highlight of the summit will be a panel discussion on the theme “Tourism Innovation and Connectivity for the Future of Sri Lanka Tourism.” The panel features internationally renowned experts such as Peter Hill, Miguel Kunat, Buddhika Hewawasam, and Anita Mandarita. Their participation signals the seriousness with which Sri Lanka is approaching its positioning in the global tourism landscape, learning from international best practices while tailoring them to local needs.

Looking ahead

Sri Lanka Tourism Expo 2025 is more than an event; it is a movement. By engaging students, empowering SMEs, showcasing talent, and attracting international academic and political participation, it reflects a country determined to rebuild tourism on principles of sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. The presence of visionary leadership, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors, industry stakeholders, and global experts affirms the sector’s centrality to Sri Lanka’s economy and identity.