Sri Lanka Tourism successfully concluded a vibrant series of roadshows in Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Jaipur on June 23rd, 25th, and 27th, 2025, marking a strong stride in its efforts to attract Indian travellers. The events, held in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), showcased the country’s diverse tourism offerings and strategic plans to strengthen ties with Indian travel stakeholders.

India continues to lead as Sri Lanka’s top source market, contributing to 20% of total tourist arrivals. From January to 31st May 2025, Sri Lanka welcomed 1,029,803 visitors, out of which 204,060 were from India. This growing interest has translated into significant economic returns, with Sri Lanka's tourism sector generating over USD 1.54 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025.

To further promote its standing, Sri Lanka is offering visa-free entry for Indian tourists, ensuring smoother access to its beaches, mountains, temples, and cities. Enhanced air connectivity also supports this initiative, with SriLankan Airlines operating 90 flights a week connecting nine Indian cities, alongside IndiGo and Air India providing daily flights from major hubs.

The roadshows were held with a focus on travellers from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Over 35 tourism stakeholders from Sri Lanka participated, including Destination Management Companies, luxury resorts, MICE experts, and travel service providers. Each event hosted over 200 Indian travel agents, industry leaders, and media, engaging in fruitful B2B discussions aimed at long-term collaborations.

Led by Mr. Vijitha Herath, Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Honourable Deputy Minister of Tourism, the delegation brought an impressive lineup of speakers, cultural showcases, and strategic dialogues to the forefront. A cultural troupe performed traditional Sri Lankan dances, offering a glimpse into the island’s rich heritage and artistic vibrancy.

As part of Sri Lanka Tourism’s broader strategy, these roadshows reinforce its commitment to positioning the country as a year-round destination for Indian tourists offering cultural depth, natural beauty, and warm hospitality. The events successfully sparked interest and reaffirmed Sri Lanka's identity as an accessible and enriching destination for Indian travellers.

Sri Lanka’s vision for the future is clear: to build on its deep-rooted ties with India and continue creating unforgettable experiences that draw travellers back, time and again.

Expanding its footprint across India’s key spiritual and leisure destinations, Clarks Hotels & Resorts has launched its newest premium property — Clarks Resort Pushkar. The launch also marks the debut of its newly introduced brand, Clarks Resorts, under the larger Clarks Safari Group umbrella.

This strategic expansion reflects the group’s intent to diversify its portfolio and cater to the growing demand for upscale accommodations in religious and culturally rich regions. For this venture, the brand has partnered with Pankaj Group of Hotels & Resorts, a company under the Dreamline Group.

Positioned as a luxury resort, Clarks Resort Pushkar is designed to attract high-end travellers and also serve as a hub for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events and destination weddings.

The property features a state-of-the-art banquet and conference facility spanning over 10,000 square feet, fully equipped to host weddings, corporate gatherings, and large social events.

Speaking on the occasion, Pankaj Meena, Director at Pankaj Group of Hotels & Resorts, shared:

“To elevate the guest experience, the resort offers a variety of curated on-property experiences. From bird-watching machans and guided nature walks led by local experts, to exploring organic gardens and fruit orchards, our goal is to connect guests with nature. Guests can even handpick produce for their meals, creating a truly farm-to-table dining experience.”

The resort offers 134 rooms, including premium rooms and private pool villas, ideal for families and groups seeking privacy and luxury. The dedicated kids’ zone, along with a host of recreational activities and trained staff, ensures a comfortable and engaging stay for families with children.

The launch of Clarks Resort Pushkar marks a significant milestone in Clarks Hotels & Resorts’ vision to strengthen its presence in India’s spiritual, leisure, and event-driven destinations. With this debut, the group takes a confident step forward in redefining hospitality offerings across tier-two and culturally rich cities.

Whether for a tranquil spiritual getaway, an immersive nature retreat, a grand wedding, or a corporate offsite, Clarks Resort Pushkar promises a blend of luxury, culture, and comfort in the heart of Rajasthan.

In a bold move that blends artificial intelligence with airport retail, Ospree Duty Free, in collaboration with Voiceback Analytics, has successfully piloted India’s first AI-led, digital-only promotional experience at Mumbai International Airport. Conducted on May 29, 2025, this 24-hour trial marks a significant shift in the future of airport shopping.

Instead of the usual clutter of traditional discount signage, the retail space embraced a minimalist, tech-forward setup. Travellers were invited to interact with a single QR code, which unlocked real-time personalized offers powered by Voiceback’s Dynamic Promotion Engine, hosted on Microsoft Azure.

The pilot eliminated printed promotional material and relied entirely on a seamless, digital interaction. Upon scanning the QR code, travellers input minimal information including mobile number and passport ID and were instantly presented with customized discounts based on their preferences and behavioural cues.

The offers were dynamically generated through Voiceback’s AI system, which analyzed shopping patterns and curated real-time deals, bringing e-commerce-level personalization to the offline duty-free environment.

Ospree staff guided passengers through the digital journey, ensuring a smooth and engaging retail interaction. The interactive and clutter-free experience was met with positive traveller feedback, demonstrating a strong acceptance of tech-led innovations in duty-free retail.

Interestingly, sales performance remained steady despite the removal of visual banners, underscoring the effectiveness of AI-driven personalization in enhancing customer engagement and trust.

One insight from the pilot pointed to the need for improved staff training, especially to elevate on-ground assistance and encourage deeper digital participation among hesitant shoppers.

Speaking on the success of the pilot, an Ospree Duty Free spokesperson said:

“This pilot was a test drive and quite a successful one. It marks a new chapter in how we connect with travellers. As India’s first duty-free store to try something so novel, we see great potential in tech-led engagement that’s seamless, personalized, and built for the modern shopper.”

Following this promising response, Ospree Duty Free now aims to scale the digital-first retail system across additional stores and formats, further reinforcing its position as a leader in tech-powered travel retail.

With this initiative, Ospree Duty Free has set a new benchmark for innovation in the Indian retail space, blending AI, personalization, and customer convenience to create a futuristic shopping journey. The pilot is a testament to how technology can enhance value while reducing visual clutter, offering a glimpse into what the future of airport shopping could soon become.