Emirates and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) have renewed their partnership to strengthen efforts supporting the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and promote the destination to international travellers.
The partnership brings together Emirates’ extensive global network and SLTPB’s destination marketing efforts to increase awareness of Sri Lanka across key international markets and support the growth of tourist arrivals.
The renewed partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), building on the collaboration between the two organisations first established in 2022. Emirates, which operates a global network spanning six continents and serves almost 140 destinations, has continued to contribute to tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka through its international connectivity.
The MoU was signed at Arabian Travel Market 2026 by Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial, West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Chamila Jayarathna, Deputy Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
The signing ceremony was attended by Arusha Cooray, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE, Alexi Gunasekera, Consul General of Sri Lanka, and Madusha Perera, Deputy Director, Marketing, SLTPB, together with representatives from Emirates and Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
Under the renewed partnership, Emirates and SLTPB will continue promoting Sri Lanka as a tourism destination across key markets within the airline’s extensive international network. Among the markets contributing to tourist arrivals by air through Emirates’ network are Russia, the UK, Germany, Australia and the US, alongside other destinations across its global network.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s international tourism visibility by leveraging Emirates’ connectivity across major source markets and supporting promotional initiatives designed to attract travellers to the island.
Commenting on the renewed partnership, Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial, West Asia & Indian Ocean, said, “Sri Lanka is among the longest-standing destinations in our network, having served it for over 40 years now, and we are proud to continue to work hand in hand with its tourism authority to contribute to its success as a top tourist destination. We continue to dedicate substantial efforts to contribute to the success of the nation’s tourism industry.”
The renewed collaboration builds on more than four decades of Emirates’ presence in Sri Lanka and its ongoing engagement with the country’s tourism sector. By combining the airline’s global reach with SLTPB’s destination promotion efforts, the partnership will continue to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen its position in international tourism markets.
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