44 Sri Lankan Operators, 100 Kiwi Agents: Sri Lanka Tourism Roadshow 2026 Builds Bridges in Auckland and Christchurch
Photo: Sourced from ශ්රී LankaNZ. Photo credit: Dhanushka Prathibha and Himasha Gunasekara.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry met with travel professionals in Christchurch and Auckland in August and September 2026, as a roadshow introduced the island’s destinations, experiences and hospitality to New Zealand’s travel trade. The Auckland session brought 44 Sri Lankan tourism representatives together with more than 100 New Zealand travel agents and tour operators for business-to-business meetings.
The events took place in Christchurch on 31 August and Auckland on 1 September. A report by Auckland-based columnist Thulitha Abayawardana appeared in Issue 38 of ශ්රී LankaNZ, published on 31 October 2026. The article describes a strong focus on building connections between the two countries and helping New Zealanders discover Sri Lanka.
Connecting Sri Lankan tourism businesses with Kiwi agents
The roadshow was officiated by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to New Zealand Hon. Prasanna Gamage and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Mr Buddhika Hewawasam. Its purpose was to present Sri Lanka’s appeal to Kiwi travellers and give tourism businesses from both countries an opportunity to meet.
According to the ශ්රී LankaNZ report, the Auckland programme opened with a B2B session involving 44 tourism industry representatives from Sri Lanka and over 100 travel agents and tour operators from New Zealand. The writer described the room as so busy that there was hardly an empty desk.
That face-to-face format gave travel professionals a chance to discuss destinations and specialist experiences directly. The report noted that representatives included businesses working in areas such as adventure sports and Ayurvedic wellness retreats. These options sit alongside Sri Lanka’s better-known attractions, including beaches, tea-growing highlands, wildlife and historic sites.
AI-generated editorial illustration. eLanka watermark included.
The figures offer a snapshot of interest at the Auckland meeting; they should not be read as a count for both cities combined. The article’s headline refers to 100 Kiwi agents, while its account specifies over 100 agents and tour operators at the Auckland B2B session.
New Zealand travellers already have a connection with Sri Lanka
The roadshow also built on existing travel between the two countries. Citing figures in its report, ශ්රී LankaNZ states that 13,456 travellers from New Zealand visited Sri Lanka during 2025.
The article presents Sri Lanka as a destination that can appeal to travellers drawn to nature and outdoor activities, as well as to those interested in wellness, heritage and food. Its landscape ranges from highland tea plantations to tropical coastline, while its cultural and historic sites offer another dimension to a visit.
AI-generated editorial illustration. eLanka watermark included.
At the Auckland gala, speakers reflected on the connections between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Chief Guest Sir Anand Satyanand, former Governor-General of New Zealand, emphasised the kinship between the two countries. The roadshow’s official guests also highlighted Sri Lanka’s travel experiences and the value of building links through tourism.
Cricket, food and personal travel experiences
Well-known New Zealanders added personal perspectives to the programme. Former New Zealand Women’s Cricket captain Suzie Bates and sports journalist Scotty Stevenson spoke about their experiences of Sri Lanka, including their visits as travellers. Their contributions connected the two countries through shared interest in sport and through the welcome they encountered.
Former MasterChef New Zealand winners Karena and Kasey Bird also spoke at the event. Having recently visited Sri Lanka, they shared their impressions of its food, natural beauty and hospitality. Their comments gave the audience a visitor’s perspective on the country’s culinary traditions and the experience of meeting local communities.
Sri Lanka Tourism’s latest branding motto, “Sri Lanka: You’ll Come Back for More”, captured that theme. The Bird sisters said their own visit had made them want to return, offering a personal example of the appeal the roadshow sought to communicate.
The dinner gala brought Sri Lankan culture into the room through performances by Auckland’s Dancing Angels Academy. Traditional dance and music added a community dimension to the tourism event, with local performers helping to share Sri Lankan heritage with attendees.
Food was another part of the evening’s welcome. Guests were served pol roti, a coconut flatbread, with pol sambol, a spicy coconut relish, and meat curry as appetisers, followed by watalappan, a traditional Sri Lankan dessert.
AI-generated editorial illustration. eLanka watermark included.
Travel access and sustainable tourism
The Sri LankaNZ report also highlighted travel connectivity. It attributed to the event speakers the information that Jetstar had recently started direct flights from Melbourne to Sri Lanka, making travel more convenient. This was presented as a development relevant to travel planning; the article does not give flight schedules or route details.
Questions at the Auckland session included sustainable tourism. The report says Mr Gamage and Mr Hewawasam highlighted the importance of sustainable policies, particularly in ecotourism, and stated that policies were already in place. Ecotourism generally refers to travel that places emphasis on natural environments and responsible visitor practices.
That discussion is relevant as Sri Lanka promotes a broad range of experiences, including wildlife and nature-based travel. Sustainable tourism was therefore part of the roadshow conversation alongside destination promotion and business networking.
A community bridge between Sri Lanka and New Zealand
The Christchurch and Auckland events brought tourism representatives, travel professionals, public figures and community performers together around a shared focus: making Sri Lanka better known to Kiwi travellers. The Auckland B2B session provided space for industry conversations, while the evening programme introduced attendees to Sri Lankan food, music and dance.
For Sri Lankans living in New Zealand, the roadshow also offered a moment of cultural connection and visibility. The participation of Auckland’s Dancing Angels Academy showed how diaspora communities can contribute to events that promote Sri Lanka abroad, while retaining a meaningful place for local cultural life.
The roadshow was reported as a successful opportunity to make connections and present Sri Lanka’s tourism offer. For readers considering a visit, the article’s key message is that the island brings together varied landscapes, food, heritage and hospitality, and that Sri Lanka’s tourism representatives are working to build stronger links with New Zealand’s travel industry.
Source: Sri Lanka Tourism Roadshow 2026: Bringing Kiwis back for more, ශ්රී LankaNZ
