Sri Lanka strengthens engagement with Indian travel trade in New Delhi
Alexandra
SriLankan Airlines maintains scheduled services from multiple Indian cities to Colombo, serving as the primary transport backbone that underpinned the networking evening in New Delhi and the promotional push ahead of SATTE 2026.
New Delhi networking: event highlights and attendance
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) convened a well-attended industry evening at Hyatt Centric Janakpuri on 23 February 2026, drawing over 200 travel trade and media delegates. The gathering concentrated on operational collaboration, air connectivity and product diversification to boost visitor flows from India—the destination’s largest source market.
The SLTPB delegation was led by Sanjaya Niroshana (Managing Director) and included Shirani Herath (Assistant Director) and Priyanga Subhashini (Junior Manager). Geshan Dissanayake, representing the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, opened the proceedings with remarks stressing cultural and economic ties. On the trade side, Dinesh Kumar, Chairman of the Northern India Chapter of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), outlined the destination’s positive positioning among Indian travellers while urging deeper cross-sector collaboration. Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager – India, Bangladesh & Nepal for SriLankan Airlines, reiterated the carrier’s role in sustaining inbound connectivity.
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| Participant | Role | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Sanjaya Niroshana | Managing Director, SLTPB | Destination visibility, trade partnerships |
| Geshan Dissanayake | High Commission of Sri Lanka | Cultural & diplomatic linkages |
| Dinesh Kumar | Chairman, TAFI Northern India | Travel trade engagement |
| Fawzan Fareid | SriLankan Airlines | Air connectivity & operations |
| Chandana Wickramasinghe’s Dancers Guild | Cultural performers | Heritage promotion |
Transport and connectivity commitments
Discussions at the event emphasised the practical levers for growth: expanded flight frequencies, route optimisation and coordinated sales efforts between airlines and agents. Strengthening scheduled air links to Colombo was identified as a priority, since reliable carrier capacity translates directly into greater booking windows for tour operators and higher seasonal load factors for hotels and excursion providers.
Cultural showcase and product diversification
A cultural performance by Chandana Wickramasinghe’s Dancers Guild reinforced the promotional narrative: Sri Lanka is positioning itself across multiple product pillars—beaches, heritage, wellness, wildlife and gastronomy—to reduce seasonality and broaden appeal. Delegates highlighted the need to package these offers for Indian segments such as family beach holidays, wellness retreats and short wildlife breaks.
Strategic priorities, implications for trade and marine tourism
SLTPB’s stated strategic focus includes three interlocking priorities: enhance destination visibility, diversify tourism products and strengthen trade partnerships. For maritime and coastal operators, these priorities create clear opportunities to promote charter products, island-hopping itineraries and marina-based experiences tailored to Indian travellers.
- Visibility: Targeted marketing campaigns in Indian metros to drive awareness of coastal and yachting experiences.
- Diversification: Development of packaged experiences that combine beach stays with day charters, fishing trips, and heritage excursions.
- Trade partnerships: Co-operative promotions with airlines, inbound tour operators and ground handlers to synchronise capacity and product availability.
| Strategic Priority | Implication for Travel Trade | Implication for Yachting/Boating |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced visibility | More OTA listings and agent training | Increased charter enquiries and marina demand |
| Product diversification | New combined itineraries | Development of day charters, fishing and wellness cruises |
| Trade partnerships | Joint packages with airlines | Cross-selling between hotels and boat operators |
Actionable takeaways for operators and agents
- Align inventory windows with airline schedules to capture transfer passengers arriving in Colombo.
- Design family- and group-friendly charter packages that integrate beach, wildlife and cultural stops.
- Enhance captain-led experiences and licensed fishing excursions to diversify revenue streams.
- Train frontline staff and agents on simple multilingual scripts and product differentials for Indian markets.
Historical context and market trajectory
India has historically been Sri Lanka’s largest source market, rooted in geographic proximity and deep cultural links. Over successive decades, bilateral travel has been supported by steady air connectivity and cross-border social ties. In recent years the market has evolved from purely leisure beach travel to a mix that includes wellness, heritage and niche adventure segments. The recent networking push in New Delhi reflects an ongoing effort to rebuild and accelerate visitor recovery post-disruptions, with an emphasis on creating year-round demand.
Forecast for 2026 and implications for coastal tourism
Assuming continued operational support from carriers and sustained trade engagement, 2026 could show further increases in arrivals from India. For coastal and marine stakeholders this implies higher demand for charter services, increased berth utilisation in marinas, and a greater opportunity to offer diversified experiences—day sails, island-hopping, sport fishing and boutique superyacht services. Improvements in ground logistics and streamlined intermodal connections (air-to-marina transfers, luggage handling, and shore excursions) will be critical to converting arrival volume into extended stays and higher per-trip spend.
| Opportunity | Impact | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| Day charters & island hops | Higher utilisation of small craft | Create fixed itineraries and dynamic pricing |
| Fishing & experiential trips | Attract niche segments | Certify guides/captains and promote seasonal packages |
| Marina services | New revenue streams from berths and provisioning | Upgrade facilities and partner with hotels for transfers |
Takeaways for travel trade and yachting businesses
- Coordinate promotions with carriers to align charter capacity with flight schedules.
- Bundle land and sea products to extend length of stay and increase spend per visitor.
- Invest in training for captains and crew to elevate the guest experience for family and premium segments.
- Leverage cultural assets to differentiate marine itineraries (heritage coves, coastal temples, local cuisine stops).
In summary, the New Delhi networking push led by SLTPB and supported by SriLankan Airlines and Indian trade bodies reinforces Sri Lanka’s strategic focus on the Indian market through enhanced connectivity, targeted promotion and product diversification. These measures can stimulate demand not only for beaches and heritage sites but also for yacht charters, boat rentals and marina services. As visitor flows grow, opportunities for charter companies, captains and marinas to offer tailored sailing activities, fishing trips and luxury superyacht experiences will expand. For travellers and industry stakeholders seeking yacht, charter, boat or beach experiences—whether day sails, lake or sea excursions, or full superyacht charters—an international marketplace can simplify search and booking. GetBoat.com is an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, probably the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget, helping connect visitors to destinations, marinas and local captains, and supporting boating, yachting and charter activities across coastal and gulf regions with options for rent, sale and professional crews.
