COLOMBO, September 8 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka will celebrate UN World Tourism Day 2025 with the launch of a landmark nationwide hospitality skills development programme for secondary school students. The initiative, seen as a bold step to prepare youth for the country’s growing tourism economy, will begin with a week of events from September 27 to October 1.
The celebrations open on 27 September with the Colombo Travel Mart 2025 at One Galle Face, where 50 stalls will showcase tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents, and international buyers.
The programme is spearheaded by the Alumni Association of Tourism Economics and Hospitality Management (AATEHM) of the University of Colombo and the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), with strong backing from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism.
On 28 September, the focus will move to the Sri Lanka Tourism Job Fair & Career Expo, organised by AATEHM and the Sustainable Tourism Unit, with support from SLTDA, SLAITO, SLITHM, and the University of Colombo. The fair will connect students, job seekers, and professionals with employers and training institutions, opening clear career pathways in tourism and hospitality.
Launched under the national theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, the programme aims to create vocational awareness, instill sustainable practices, and expose students to international hospitality standards. Open to students from Grade 9 upwards, it is designed to equip the next generation with the skills, values, and mindset needed for the future of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
The initiative will run in two stages. In September, provincial competitions will take place across all nine provinces at SLITHM regional centres and partner hotels. Winners will qualify for the national-level events in Colombo.
On 30 September, the spotlight will be on youth with the Final School Tourism Club Competition, showcasing the knowledge and talent of students who emerged from provincial rounds.
The programme will reach its peak on 1 October at BMICH, with multiple headline events: the 10th International Tourism Research Conference, the 10th International Tourism Leaders’ Summit, the launch of the Ruhunu Ring, the Vision-2-Voice 4th Edition, and a grand award ceremony.
Beyond technical training, the initiative seeks to inspire sustainable thinking and professional excellence, marking a milestone in Sri Lanka’s tourism journey.
