PARIS : Sri Lanka Tourism showcased “Destination Sri Lanka” at the International & French Travel Market (IFTM) Top Resa 2025, held at Porte de Versailles in Paris from 23 to 25 September 2025. The spacious, well-designed Sri Lanka Pavilion, organized by Sri Lanka Tourism, was a key attraction at the fair, presenting the many facets of Sri Lanka along with Ceylon tea and traditional Sri Lankan dance and music.
Thirty (30) Sri Lankan travel and tourism companies took part in this year’s IFTM, including leaders in the French market such as Aitken Spence Travels, Jetwing Travels, Connaissance de Ceylan, Oak Ray Holdings, Thema Collection, Walkers Tours Ltd, and LSR Travels, among others. Several new companies, including Orinway Leisure (Pvt) Ltd, also joined the French travel fair for the first time.
The Sri Lanka Pavilion was formally inaugurated by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Manisha Gunasekera, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest, together with Mr. Dushan Wickramasuriya, Director (Marketing), Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. Also present were Mr. Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Regional Manager for Europe & the Americas of Sri Lankan Airlines, industry leaders, and representatives including senior members of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. The ceremony was followed by the serving of Sri Lankan delicacies and Ceylon tea.
In her remarks, the Ambassador underlined the pivotal role of the travel and tourism industry in driving Sri Lanka’s economic growth and development. She commended the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau for showcasing the country at IFTM with a state-of-the-art pavilion, and congratulated industry leaders for their enduring commitment to promoting Destination Sri Lanka in France.
In his address, the Director (Promotion) of Sri Lanka Tourism warmly welcomed the French travel industry to the Pavilion, emphasizing the resilience, dynamism, and upward trajectory of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector and its strong potential. He also referred to several major promotional campaigns in the pipeline aimed at further consolidating France as a top target market for Sri Lanka.
On 23 September, the Embassy of Sri Lanka hosted a networking dinner reception at its premises for Sri Lankan travel and tourism representatives. Distinguished French participants at the reception included Mr. Eric Le Corre, President of the Sri Lanka–France Business Council at MEDEF, and Mrs. Claudie Ravel, Founder of Guayapi Lanka.
France is Sri Lanka’s sixth largest source market and the second largest within the European Union. From January to August 2025, 83,011 French tourists visited Sri Lanka, reflecting a 23.3 percent increase compared with the same period last year. This positive trend is expected to continue.
IFTM Top Resa is the foremost and most prestigious travel and tourism exposition in France, showcasing over 170 destinations and bringing together nearly 30,000 industry professionals from the travel and leisure sector annually in Paris. Sri Lanka’s participation in IFTM 2025 was facilitated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in partnership with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France. The Commercial Secretary of the Embassy, Ms. Prasadi Boomawalage, and Mr. Viranga Bandara, Assistant Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, were also associated with the event.
