Sri Lanka targets young travellers through Roblox tourism experience

Roblox’s Virtual Travel Experience”, founder Anthony Lambert  (center) addressing the media while Lead Developer Hiruna Kitsandu (extreme left) and Head of Technology Himansha Hishan look on 
Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Sri Lanka is looking to tap into the global gaming community to attract the next generation of travellers, with local game developer Sea Pony Studios launching ‘Discover Ceylon’, a virtual tourism experience on the Roblox platform.
The game, developed in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities, allows users to explore digital recreations of destinations including Colombo, Kandy, Ella, Negombo and the southern coastline, while experiencing elements of local culture and transport.
Speaking at the launch, Sea Pony Studios Founder Anthony Lambert said the project was designed to address a gap in traditional tourism marketing by reaching audiences under the age of 25. The game attracted more than 55,000 players and generated over 5 million impressions during a two-week pilot in January 2026, recording a 72 percent seven-day retention rate.
Built on Roblox, which had around 132 million daily active users globally at the time of the pilot launch, the experience features virtual versions of landmarks such as the Lotus Tower and Independence Square, alongside local experiences including roadside food stalls.
Sea Pony Studios, which employs more than 20 full-time staff in Sri Lanka and works with a network of international freelancers, said it is also inviting tourism-related businesses, airlines, hotels and travel operators to establish a presence within the virtual environment as part of broader efforts to promote Sri Lanka to a global audience.