The Sri Lanka Tourism Job Fair and Career Expo successfully concluded at One Galle Face in Colombo, drawing strong participation from students, graduates, and young professionals eager to enter the hospitality and tourism industry. Now in its third year, the fair connected aspiring youth with leading employers, offering on-site interviews, career guidance sessions, and workshops. With youth unemployment still a challenge in the country, the event provided a practical platform to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Labour, Professor Anil Jayantha said that he was encouraged by the collaboration and opportunities created through the fair. “I am happy to be here. When everyone is working towards the same objective, it becomes a success. We saw it here today. Many are not aware as to how to find new job opportunities, and where they are. As the Government, we are working to elevate the sector, and many programmes have been launched. But the opportunities are not yet well known among the public. University students and others are often unaware of them. This is a great solution to that issue, and a great event.”
The Job Fair formed part of Sri Lanka’s ambitious programme to mark World Tourism Day 2025, celebrated under the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) global theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.” This year’s Expo stands as one of the most wide-ranging series of tourism events the country has seen in recent years, extending from provincial competitions to international level conferences. The initiative is a joint effort by the Ministry of Tourism, the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM), the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO). They were joined by the Alumni Association of Tourism Economics & Hospitality Management (AATEHM) and the Sustainable Tourism Unit of the University of Colombo.
