Sri Lanka eyes 500,000 Indian travellers through first-ever dedicated destination wedding promo
The Morning: The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has launched its first-ever dedicated destination wedding promotion for the Indian market.
The campaign is rolled out through a series of luxury multi-city wedding showcases in India, hosted in association with Linkin Reps, positioning the island nation as a premier wedding destination.
Sri Lanka is witnessing a significant rise in the number of couples choosing the island for their weddings.
In response to a question asked by T3, SLTPB Chairperson Buddhika Hewawasam said: “Last year we doubled the numbers, hosting about 30 large weddings of Indian couples in Sri Lanka, each with more than 500 guests, plus another 50 smaller celebrations. It is a remarkable opportunity for wedding planners and organisers to consider Sri Lanka.”
Hewawasam also shared that the wedding promotion is part of a broader tourism strategy targeting the Indian market. “India is our biggest tourist market. We’re reaching 100,000 visitors now and expect 500,000 Indian travellers to visit Sri Lanka.”
With regards to popular Sri Lankan hotspots capable of holding Indian weddings, Hewawasam noted, “Indian weddings are already popular in Colombo and the southern belt, particularly in Hikkaduwa and Hambantota.
But we want to expand this to the East Coast which offers more stunning beaches and more exclusive locations.” Kandy, Dambulla, and Negombo remain traditional favourites for weddings.
There is also a sharp increase in Indian couples choosing Sri Lanka’s beaches and heritage sites for exclusive pre-wedding shoots.
The country has also attracted weddings from the Indian diaspora in the Gulf region, with some events hosting as many as 750 guests over a week-long celebration. While Indian weddings form the bulk, European couples from Poland, Germany, and the UK are also drawn to Sri Lanka’s tropical charm.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s advantages for Indian weddings, Hewawasam noted that the country can cater to the full array of Indian couples, including those seeking religious ceremonies.
“Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in South Asia where all Indian religious rituals can be performed. We are visa-free and better connected than most destinations in South Asia, and even beyond.”
He also highlighted the culinary teams capable of delivering regional Indian menus, including Jain, Sattvic, Halal, vegan, and gluten-free requirements.
Responding to growing demand for sustainable celebrations, many Sri Lankan properties now offer eco-friendly “green wedding” options with plastic-free design, local florals, and community performances delivered responsibly.
He further shared, “In the past two to three years, our entire tourism landscape has transformed. Indian wedding couples, as well as general tourists, are also evolving in their preferences. Today, we are not only equipped to host grand weddings but also more intimate celebrations, in line with what the new generation is seeking.”
India’s MICE market is another area of emphasis. “Colombo is now well-equipped for large MICE groups with extensive conference facilities and entertainment options. With visa-free entry and short flight times from India, we see increasing MICE traffic,” he said, noting Sri Lanka’s strong presence at recent MICE expos with over 35 participants.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is on a steady growth path while also showing a strong potential for further growth and expansion. The ongoing promotional campaigns in foreign tourist source markets and the expansion of tourism concepts being promoted have resulted in Sri Lanka attracting an increasing number of foreign tourists to the country. All these have also resulted in Sri Lanka being identified as a must visit tourist destination with much to explore. However, the growth in the tourism industry has resulted in the expansion of business/investment opportunities in the industry as well as related sectors. It is in such a backdrop that local tourism authorities are looking at promoting Sri Lanka as a dream wedding destination among foreign countries including in neighbouring India. While Indian tourists are among key foreign travelers to Sri Lanka, the latest move to promote destination weddings in Sri Lanka opens a host of new business/investment opportunities in the country’s tourism industry. Among these opportunities are the development of infrastructure facilities as well as supplementary infrastructure facilities required to meet the increasing demand. Also, the expanding opportunities in the country’s leisure and hospitality sector are evident by the interest shown by international leisure and hospitality brands to enter Sri Lanka. With the increasing growth and business potential in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and related sectors, foreign businesses/investors could explore the direct and indirect business/investment opportunities in the industry.VBS/AT/20250916/Z_2
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250916/Z_2 |