The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels, with the support of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, participated at ‘Vakantie Expo’; a three-day event held from 30 January to 01 February 2026 at Antwerp Expo in Belgium. The lively travel expo welcomed over 30,000 visitors from the Benelux region, including travel enthusiasts and industry professionals, giving Sri Lanka an immense opportunity to present itself as a leading must-visit long-haul travel destination.
At the main presentation corner of the venue, Minister (Commercial) of the Embassy, Thavishya Mullegamgoda presented Sri Lanka’s diverse and authentic tourism offerings including its rich culture, natural beauty, wildlife, and showcased Sri Lanka as an ideal destination for celebrating weddings & honeymoons, MICE, adventures, digital nomads cruise travels, filming and eco & agro based tourism activities, making a strong appeal to the visitors in the Benelux region to select Sri Lanka as their next travel destination.
The expo provided an ideal setting for Sri Lanka to engage directly with potential travelers from Belgium and neighbouring countries, who are actively planning future trips. The Sri Lanka stand displayed featured informative tourism banners, brochures, and maps that highlighted the country’s distinctive tourism offerings and identity. Belgian travelers planning to visit Sri Lanka in 2026, along with those considering future travel, received personalized advice and insights from embassy representatives.
The Sri Lanka stand attracted both repeated visitors and first-time travelers. Some guests shared fond memories of previous visits and expressed enthusiasm about revisiting to discover new regions in Sri Lanka, while others who had long considered Sri Lanka a dream destination gathered information to plan their upcoming trips. Visitors showed strong interest in the island’s diverse attractions, including extended holiday experiences, family-oriented activities, culinary tourism, natural beauty, wildlife encounters, cultural heritage sites, and outdoor adventures. It was also noticed that young female travelers are looking for safe destinations for their solo travelling.
Participation in the Vakantie Expo not only strengthened Sri Lanka’s brand visibility but also created valuable networking opportunities within Belgium’s travel industry. The Embassy also facilitated other travel agents and tour operators who promote Sri Lanka as a destination. As a ticketed event that attracted visitors from Belgium and neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany etc. the expo helped expand the reach of Sri Lanka’s tourism promotion efforts in the western Europe.
Sri Lanka recorded the highest ever number of travellers from Belgium in 2025. Considering the growth in arrivals, the high-spending nature of Belgian travelers, and their tendency to repeat visits, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Belgium plans to carry out several promotional events in 2026.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Brussels
11 February 2026
