Sri Lanka is focusing on attracting Indian travelers by promoting spiritual tourism through the Ramayana Trail, according to Richard Nuttall, CEO of SriLankan Airlines.
The announcement was made during the launch event of “The Ramayana Trail” held at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Delhi. This initiative aims to enhance tourism from India while offering a unique travel experience.
SriLankan Airlines has introduced an exclusive Ramayana Trail package designed for Indian tourists. The package covers 20 significant locations in Sri Lanka tied to the Ramayana epic. Visitors can explore sites where Lord Rama, Sita, and Hanuman’s legendary adventures took place, adding a cultural and spiritual touch to their travel.
A Strong Connection with India
SriLankan Airlines operates 88 weekly flights to nine Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trivandrum, Chennai, Trichy, and Madurai. India remains Sri Lanka’s largest tourism market, contributing around 20% of its visitors.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Kshenuka Senewiratne, highlighted that tourism is steadily growing despite challenges, even exceeding pre-COVID levels. Efforts are being made to encourage Indian tourists to explore beyond traditional destinations like Colombo and Kandy.
A Cultural and Devotional Link
Richard Nuttall expressed optimism about the initiative, saying, “We are thrilled to reintroduce ourselves in the Indian market with the Ramayana Trail excursions.
This exclusive offering is bound to inspire Indian travelers to explore Sri Lanka in a way that resonates with their devotion and culture. India remains our largest market in terms of city connections and flight frequency, and this effort strengthens our plans for future growth.”
