'One-man soft power engine' who builds bridges between communities

In the competitive world of global tourism, few private citizens have made a national impact quite like Nisther Annis. A Sri Lankan entrepreneur who rose to prominence in the UK's travel industry, Annis transformed not only the way Britons experienced Sri Lanka, but how they understood it. Over the span of four decades, he became a one-man soft power engine deploying business strategy, diaspora networks, and cultural insight to elevate Sri Lanka's global brand.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

“I always believed Sri Lanka could offer more than just beaches, Annis told The Island Financial Review.

He added: “We had culture, faith, family, food, and hospitality. All we needed was the right narrative—and a business model to deliver it.”

Annis's strategic instincts were inherited. He is the eldest son of S. M. Annis, the most senior official in the country's Public Works Department, whose infrastructure projects defined Sri Lanka's physical landscape post-independence. “My father laid roads and built bridges, Annis says. “I like to think I did the same just across countries and communities.”

Founding Annis Travels & Tours in London in 1980, he went on to become the first Sri Lankan to be inducted as a Fellow of the UK’s Institute of Travel and Tourism. This recognition helped him build credibility among major international airlines, leading to long-term partnerships with Emirates, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, PIA, and SriLankan Airlines.