Sri Lanka Tourism has wrapped up its latest series of roadshows across Madurai, Coimbatore, and Chennai, celebrating remarkable growth in tourist arrivals from India. The island nation continues to shine as a preferred destination for Indian travellers, driven by visa-free entry, improved air connectivity, and its ever-growing appeal as a year-round getaway.

Organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), the events showcased the country’s diverse attractions, warm hospitality, and tourism potential to the South Indian market. Over 400 travel agents and tour operators from across Tamil Nadu participated, alongside 39 Sri Lankan stakeholders, including destination management companies, hotels, resorts, and tour operators.

The roadshows provided a platform for business-to-business meetings and networking evenings, allowing industry representatives to explore partnerships and strengthen travel ties between both countries. Each event drew over 200 attendees, including travel professionals, media members, and key industry figures.

India has long been Sri Lanka’s largest source market and continues to hold that position firmly. From January to September 2025, the country recorded 1,725,494 tourist arrivals, with 375,292 visitors from India, accounting for 22% of the total. Tourism earnings have already exceeded USD 2.3 billion by August 2025, highlighting the industry’s strong recovery and growth momentum.

Air connectivity plays a key role in this surge. SriLankan Airlines currently operates 88 flights every week, linking the island to nine Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Thiruvananthapuram. IndiGo and Air India also contribute to seamless travel options from South India, making short, convenient getaways to Sri Lanka even easier.

Adding cultural vibrance to the events, a Sri Lankan dance troupe performed across all three cities, captivating audiences with traditional performances that reflected the island’s rich heritage. Media gatherings with top Indian publications also helped amplify the message, positioning Sri Lanka as a must-visit destination for travellers seeking authentic experiences.

Through these engaging roadshows, Sri Lanka Tourism reinforced its commitment to deepening ties with India and inspiring travellers to rediscover the island’s charm, from its pristine beaches and lush tea hills to its ancient temples and cultural landmarks. The initiative marks yet another milestone in Sri Lanka’s journey to strengthen its presence in the Indian market and welcome travellers with open arms and unforgettable experiences.

ELE|NA has announced the debut of its first white-label spa and wellness retreat in India with the launch of Minerals by ELE|NA, an elegant sanctuary of rejuvenation, sustainability, and refined wellness. The retreat is located within Vantara Niwas in Jamnagar, part of the visionary Vantara Project, a 3,000-acre green transformation initiative led by the Ambani family under the Reliance Group.

Designed to merge sustainable luxury with wellness excellence, this collaboration marks a defining moment for ELE|NA’s expansion into India. The retreat reimagines white-label luxury wellness, where every detail reflects harmony between modern innovation and mindful living.

“With Minerals by ELE|NA, our vision was to create a sanctuary that celebrates India’s rich wellness heritage while embracing a forward-thinking approach to sustainability,” said Heidi Grimwood, Senior Vice President, ELE|NA. “Our collaboration with Vantara Niwas brings this philosophy to life, inviting guests to reconnect with nature, rediscover balance, and experience a new era of purposeful wellness luxury.”

Vantara Niwas, one of Jamnagar’s most distinguished destinations, offers refined hospitality and world-class amenities within the Reliance Jamnagar Complex. Surrounded by nature and located near the Vantara Animal Rescue and Conservation Centre, the property embodies the spirit of responsible luxury, offering privacy, serenity, and meaningful connection for discerning guests.

At Minerals by ELE|NA, wellness is transformed into a personalised experience under ELE|NA’s signature “Wellness Your Way™” philosophy. The retreat offers an array of curated therapies combining ancient traditions with modern techniques to restore balance, vitality, and inspiration.

Sustainability is central to the experience, with the inclusion of ELE|NA Essentia, the brand’s award-winning line of eco-conscious body and skincare products. Crafted with ethically sourced ingredients, local botanicals, and environmentally responsible packaging, ELE|NA Essentia reflects the brand’s commitment to bringing sustainable wellness into everyday life.

With this debut, ELE|NA sets a new benchmark for white-label luxury wellness in India, blending the essence of rejuvenation, sustainability, and elegance. The partnership with Vantara Niwas signifies a shared vision, one where wellness, luxury, and environmental consciousness exist in perfect harmony.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) and Cityflo have joined forces to launch dedicated feeder bus services for Mumbai Metro Line 3, following the launch of its third phase. This partnership addresses a longstanding challenge in the city: first- and last-mile connectivity. The initiative is expected to make metro commuting more convenient and boost overall ridership.

India’s metro network has seen rapid growth in the last decade, expanding from 248 km across five cities in 2014 to over 1,000 km in 23 cities today. In Mumbai alone, elevated Metro Lines 2A and 7 have carried more than 200 million passengers over the past three years, with daily ridership averaging over 300,000.

The MMRC-Cityflo feeder service will operate at high-demand stations including Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Worli, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Buses will run every 10 minutes during peak hours, ensuring minimal waiting time. Commuters can book rides via the Cityflo app or the Metro Connect 3 app, with plans for deeper integration allowing seamless booking within both platforms. Introductory fares are set at ₹29 per ride, with a monthly pass option at ₹499 to encourage regular use.

“Metro Line 3 marks a transformative phase for Mumbai’s mobility,” said R. Ramana, Director (Planning & Real Estate Development/NFBR), MMRC. “Feeder networks are key to ensuring that commuters can easily access the metro from home to work and back, making their journeys reliable and convenient.”

Jerin Venad, CEO of Cityflo, added, “This partnership aligns with our mission to make urban commuting frictionless. By integrating our buses with metro services, we aim to encourage more people to shift from private vehicles to public transport, contributing to a more sustainable city.”

The initiative represents a significant step in Mumbai’s urban transit evolution, integrating rail and road mobility into a cohesive, tech-enabled network. By bridging the last-mile gap, the MMRC-Cityflo collaboration seeks to improve commuter convenience, increase metro adoption, and reduce city congestion.