Sri Lanka Highlights its Diversity in Tourism in Holiday Expo Gent 2025, Belgium

Sri Lanka Embassy in Belgium together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau participated in the Holiday Expo Gent held from 28 November to 01 December 2025 at Flanders Expo in Belgium, for the second consecutive time. Sri Lanka was prominently featured as a premier travel destination in the event, which drew more than 30,000 visitors, served as a major B2C platform offering direct access to Belgian travelers planning their holidays.

The Holiday Expo took place during the tough time that Sri Lanka faced when the natural disaster occurred due to the devastating cyclone. However, the Embassy convinced Belgian travelers that Sri Lanka is open, Sri Lanka is safe and Sri Lanka needs its visitors now more than ever and we urged them to visit Sri Lanka without cancelling their trips during the ongoing peak season.

At the speech corner, Minister (Commercial) of the Embassy, Thavishya Mullegamgoda, delivered a presentation showcasing Sri Lanka’s rich and diverse tourism offerings from pristine beaches, ancient cultural sites, to wildlife, biodiversity, and eco-sustainable tourism. She also emphasized Sri Lanka’s growing niche segments, including wedding tourism, adventure travel, and MICE tourism. The Sri Lanka stand highlighted the island’s distinctive tourism identity through vibrant banners, promotional videos, brochures, detailed travel maps and served Ceylon tea.

The simultaneous hosting of the Holiday Expo and the Countryside Lifestyle Exhibition broadened the high-end visitors reach, attracting families, youth, adventure seekers, culture enthusiasts, and affluent travelers from across Belgium. Belgian travelers planning trips to Sri Lanka in 2026, as well as those who had the island on their travel wish list, visited the Sri Lanka stand to receive firsthand insights from Embassy representatives on the country’s diverse tourism opportunities.

Many visitors who had previously travelled to Sri Lanka shared their fond memories and expressed a strong desire to return, hoping to explore regions they had not visited before. New visitors also demonstrated keen interest in a variety of experiences, including long-haul vacations, family travel, culinary tourism, wildlife and nature exploration, cultural heritage tours, and adventure activities.

Sri Lanka’s participation not only strengthened the nation’s brand presence but also generated valuable networking opportunities within the Belgian travel industry. The ticketed fair additionally attracted visitors from neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, and France, further enhancing outreach across the region.

Source: adaderana