South Asia calls for united tourism front as Colombo hosts SATA 2025

COLOMBO once again became the focal point of regional tourism dialogue last Friday, as the 'Connect & Conversations' forum of the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025 returned to the city after six years.

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The forum, held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, saw tourism leaders and policymakers from across the region call for a united South Asian approach to position the region as one of the world's premier travel destinations.

SATA Vice President Suraj Khan underscored the forum's collaborative spirit. "Collectively in South Asia, on this platform, we can exchange a lot of ideas. This is about how we can collaborate and make our industry and hospitality stand on a global level. The goal is to make South Asia actually the finest travel region in the world," he said.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam used the occasion to announce a revision of Sri Lanka's tourist arrival forecast for 2025, lowering it from 3 million to a more realistic 2.6 million.

Despite the adjustment, he described the target as a "historical high" that would mark strong recovery and growth in the sector. Hewawasam stressed that regional partnerships could play a critical role in achieving sustainable growth, citing Sri Lanka's complementary relationship with the Maldives as a model. "We see a future built on partnership, not just competition," he remarked.