Sri Lanka Steps Up Tourism Outreach in Keralam Following Surge in Indian Arrivals

Sri Lanka is stepping up its outreach efforts to attract travelers from Keralam following a significant rise in Indian tourist arrivals. India has established itself as the largest source market for the island nation, with arrivals crossing 5.3 lakh in 2025.

Data shows that 531,511 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka last year. The momentum has continued into the current year, with the country receiving 482,944 Indian visitors by October 22, 2026. These figures account for 26.6 per cent of Sri Lanka's total international tourist arrivals during the period.

To capitalize on this growing market, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) recently organized a series of business-to-business (B2B) meetings across Kochi, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram. The initiative brought together Sri Lankan tourism representatives, local travel professionals, and media representatives.

The multi-city program featured trade interactions, destination presentations, and networking sessions designed to help travel operators develop customized itineraries and strengthen business partnerships. SLTPB officials emphasized that the outreach aims to build destination awareness and expand ongoing cooperation with Keralam’s travel trade ecosystem.

Speaking on the initiative, Sanjaya Niroshana, Managing Director of SLTPB, noted that India remains a key market for the country, and direct engagement with regional travel trade partners helps create broader opportunities for visitors.

During the presentations, officials highlighted Sri Lanka's diverse offerings, including its beaches, wildlife, cultural heritage, wellness options, and adventure tourism. The discussions also focused heavily on existing air connectivity between India and Sri Lanka.

According to airline frequency figures cited during the outreach, SriLankan Airlines currently operates 89 weekly flights connecting the two countries. Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager for India, Bangladesh, and Nepal at SriLankan Airlines, stated that robust air connectivity supports convenient travel and enables operators to design packages tailored to various traveler interests.

"The strategic focus on regional markets like Keralam highlights how tourism boards are moving beyond generic national campaigns to target specific high-growth regions. With established air connectivity and rising traveler numbers, strengthening direct B2B partnerships with local travel trade professionals is a practical approach to driving sustained cross-border business growth." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes