Sri Lanka to mark World Tourism Day 2025

• Sri Lanka Tourism Expo to showcase youth, sustainability and global leadership

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 programme 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 the 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, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Alumni Association of Tourism Economics and Hospitality Management and Sustainable Tourism Unit of the University of Colombo.

The programme commenced on September 1, 2025 with the provincial rounds of the All-Island School Tourism Club Competitions. Conducted in partnership with the 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. 

Running parallel to the student competitions were SME awareness programmes, conducted in collaboration with the SLTDA. These sessions sought to strengthen SMEs in tourism, helping them transition into formalised structures, improve quality standards and better integrate with national strategies. 

The Colombo SME Awareness Programme will take place on October 2, 2025, at the BMICH, coinciding with the International Tourism Leaders’ Summit, ensuring that the voices of small operators are heard alongside the policymakers and global leaders. Bridging Youth and Industry the Expo officially inaugurates on September 27, 2025, at One Galle Face with the Colombo Travel Mart, organised for the third consecutive time in partnership with the 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. 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. 

On September 28, 2025, 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 by Labor Minister and Economic Development Deputy Minister.  On October 1, 2025, Colombo will host the 10th International Tourism Research Conference (ITRC) at the 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 Prof. Ranasinge. 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, graced by Hettiarachchi, is expected to showcase the very best of the country’s youth talent, underscoring the expo’s commitment to nurturing future leaders.
The celebrations culminate on October 2, 2025, with the International Tourism Leaders’ Summit at the BMICH. This year marks the 10th edition of the summit, a platform that has consistently brought 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.