Sri Lanka Tourism conducted three roadshows in 3 major Australian cities recently as a part of as it’s worldwide Tourism Promotional campaigns, highlighting Sri Lanka as a world renowned travel destination all around the globe. The 3 roadshows were held in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne respectively, where a large number of interested Australian citizens, Industry stakeholders and Travel agencies participated enthusiastically in order to add Sri Lanka to their bucket list of holiday destinations. The inaugural event took place in Brisbane featuring the distinguished presence of Her Excellency Ms. Chitranganie Wagiswara, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia, Mr. Sandith Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka's Consul General in Melbourne, and Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), accompanied by officials from Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Sri Lanka Consulate, on the 19^th March at Brisbane and proved to be a resounding success. Thirty-two Sri Lankan companies participated alongside sixty Australian travel and tour operators and Australian media personnel. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, indicating a fruitful exchange of ideas and opportunities. These road shows serve as vital platforms for development partnerships and enhancing collaborations between Sri Lankan businesses and their Australian counterparts. Moreover, they play a pivotal role in revitalizing the tourism sector in Sri Lanka by stimulating interest and engagement from Australian markets. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau's adept organization of these events underscores its commitment to promoting tourism and facilitating meaningful connections within the industry.

On March 21st, Sri Lanka Tourism successfully concluded its second roadshow at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney. The event garnered participation from over 75 Australian travel trade companies and 25 media representatives and influencers. Facilitating, fruitful business discussions between Australian and Sri Lankan participants.

The opening remarks at the second roadshow were delivered by Her Excellency Ms. Chithranganie Wageeswara, the Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Australia. Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu provided the keynote on the new global positioning of Sri Lanka. Mr. Sandith Samarasinghe, the Sri Lankan Consul General in Melbourne, also addressing the attendees. Mr. Sakura Wijethunga, the Sri Lankan Airline Manager for Sydney, represented the National carrier in Sri Lanka.

The event featured a vibrant dance performance, adding color and liveliness to the proceedings. The dance troupe brings vibrant elegance to the event. Their graceful moves and lively performances add a special charm to the event.  They create an atmosphere filled with energy and beauty, enhancing the overall experience for everyone attending.

Notably, a raffle draw was conducted, offering attendees the chance to win exciting prizes, including six nights and seven days’ tour packages from Sri Lankan travel trade, and three complimentary air tickets from Sri Lankan Airlines. This was one item where the participants joined in enthusiastically.

Overall, the roadshow served as a platform for fostering collaboration and promoting Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination among the Australian travelers.

The conclusion of the series of Roadshows in Australia took place at the Sofitel hotel in Melbourne, marking a significant milestone in SLTPB ‘s efforts to promote Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination in Australia. With the participation of over 50 Australian agents and 35 media representatives, the event was a testament to the growing interest in Sri Lanka's tourism offerings.

The Sri Lankan Consulate in Melbourne, headed by Mr. Sandith Samarasinghe , Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Melbourne , gave an  extensive support by facilitating , coordinating and being one of the key contributors  for Sri Lanka Tourism to hold a successful promotional campaign  . With their support, Sri Lanka Tourism was able to encourage more Australian travelers to visit Sri Lanka as one of world’s finest tourist destinations, which will make even a first timer ‘’come back for more ‘’ with its enchanting holiday and travel opportunities. The Sri Lankan delegation was able to make important Business contacts with the Australian counterparts for future Tourism promotional activities.

The day commenced with productive B2B meetings, facilitating valuable connections between Australian and Sri Lankan businesses. This was followed by an official ceremonial session, featuring a warm welcome speech from Mr. Sandith Samarasinghe, the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Melbourne. Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, provided valuable insights into Sri Lanka's tourism landscape, setting the stage for further discussions. The Australian participants who were highly interested in getting to know about the destination made various queries during the Q&A sessions held.

The highlight of the event was the address by Sri Lanka Tourism Ambassador, Mr. Sanath Jayasuriya, whose presence captivated the audience. A keynote speech by Hon. Minister of Tourism, Land, Sports, and Youth Affairs, Mr. Harin Fernanado, emphasized the vast opportunities for leisure and investment in Sri Lanka.

The interactive Q&A session further underscored the attendees' keen interest in exploring business prospects in Sri Lanka. Adding to the attraction of the evening was a captivating performance by a dancing group and an enticing raffle draw, which included an Economy class return ticket from Melbourne to Colombo courtesy of Sri Lankan Airlines, along with eight tour packages from Sri Lankan travel trade participants.

Sri Lankan Airlines facilitated the provision of three tickets for three cities and twenty-two tour packages for these destinations through the Sri Lankan travel trade. Further, it is important to note that this event was organized in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra and the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Melbourne, which contributed immensely to this purpose. Overall, the event was a resounding success, Sri Lanka's position as a favored destination in the Australian market. These three roadshows conducted in Australia was highly praised and appreciated by all participants and proved to be one of the most successful roadshows conducted by Sri Lanka Tourism in its Promotional schedule. As a result of its continuous effort and hard work in spreading a positive message about Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, Sri Lanka Tourism has been able to achieve it ‘s target of luring more tourists to the destination and allow them to have the experience of a lifetime, visiting this beautiful island nation.