Sancharaka Udawa 2026: Expo Targets Tourism Growth and Market Expansion 📈

The 13th edition of Sri Lanka’s flagship travel and tourism exhibition, Sancharaka Udawa 2026, was officially inaugurated at the BMICH, focusing on building a sustainable and inclusive visitor economy. • Event Overview: Organized by SLAITO and SLTPB, the two-day expo features over 250 exhibitors and 300+ stalls. Participants include hotels, tour operators, and destination management companies. • Key Innovation: For the first time, the event includes foreign hosted buyers, facilitating direct B2B engagement between local operators and international travel partners. • Strategic Focus: Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized a vision for an environmentally responsible tourism industry, stressing the need for a resilient global brand identity and enhanced human capital. • Sector Support: Strong emphasis on SMEs and youth engagement, with complimentary stalls for government institutions and academic partnerships with universities to create career pathways. • Industry Collaboration: Major backing from private sector players including United Motors, Araliya Group, and Hilton Colombo, aimed at generating fresh bookings and regional partnerships. The exhibition concludes today, serving as a critical platform to accelerate post-crisis recovery and position Sri Lanka as a competitive global destination.