Phoenix Ogilvy And Srilankan Airlines Make History With Sri Lanka’s First Apac Effie Win For ‘ramayana Trail’ Campaign

Published on September 24, 2025

In a historical achievement, Phoenix Ogilvy Sri Lanka and SriLankan Airlines person made waves astatine nan prestigious APAC Effie Awards successful Singapore, securing Sri Lanka’s first-ever triumph astatine nan location trading awards. Their campaign, Relive nan Epic of nan Ramayana Trail, earned a Bronze Effie successful nan Travel and Tourism category, underscoring nan immense effect nan inaugural had successful revitalizing Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. The nickname astatine nan APAC Effie Awards reflects not only nan campaign’s imaginative excellence but besides nan effectiveness of nan strategies successful driving existent business results.

A Historic Achievement for Sri Lanka

The APAC Effie Awards are wide regarded arsenic 1 of nan astir prestigious accolades successful nan trading and advertizing industry, recognizing campaigns that thrust impactful business results done strategical reasoning and creativity. This year’s awards, held successful Singapore, saw a fierce competition, pinch complete 123 entries shortlisted from 12 territories. The Sri Lankan run was nan only Travel and Tourism introduction to beryllium shortlisted crossed nan full Asia-Pacific region, making it a important accomplishment for Sri Lanka.

The occurrence of nan Ramayana Trail run was peculiarly notable for its heavy taste resonance and nan measurement it connected emotionally pinch Indian tourists, nan largest inbound marketplace for Sri Lanka. By inviting Indian travelers to research 20 spiritually important sites crossed Sri Lanka, nan run cleverly reimagined nan ancient Ramayana epic arsenic a modern recreation experience. Through a operation of animation, storytelling, and culturally compelling messaging, it tapped into nan affectional and belief connections betwixt nan 2 nations.

Revitalizing Inbound Tourism pinch Cultural Appeal

The occurrence of this run has besides been recognized globally pinch aggregate prestigious awards. In 2025, it received a PATA Gold Award for Best Marketing Campaign – Carrier, which was a motion to its singular expertise to position Sri Lanka arsenic a recreation destination. Further solidifying its world appeal, nan run earned a Golden Star successful nan Campaign International class astatine nan Golden City Gate awards astatine ITB Berlin 2025, and a Silver Dragon astatine nan Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2025 successful nan “Innovative Idea aliases Concept” category.

This nickname highlights nan strategic thinking, creativity, and cultural resonance that Phoenix Ogilvy and SriLankan Airlines brought to nan table, yet supporting nan country’s captious tourism manufacture astatine a clip of need.

Sri Lanka’s Tourism Recovery: A Key Focus

The Relive nan Epic of nan Ramayana Trail run was not conscionable astir gathering business objectives; it played an basal domiciled successful revitalizing Sri Lanka’s tourism sector astatine a captious time. With Sri Lanka’s system mostly reliant connected tourism, particularly pursuing caller world challenges, nan run was designed to reignite liking successful nan country’s divers offerings. Targeting India, Sri Lanka’s largest inbound tourism segment, nan inaugural succeeded successful encouraging travel, fostering taste engagement, and re-establishing nan country’s image arsenic a spiritually rich | destination.

The affirmative results from this run align pinch nan broader Tourism Strategy 2030, which intends to boost Sri Lanka’s visitant numbers and heighten its position arsenic a world tourism hub. By reinterpreting nan Ramayana successful a recreation context, nan run not only boosted Sri Lanka’s tourism but besides strengthened its taste and belief ties pinch India, reinforcing its spot successful nan hearts of Indian travelers.

A Guide to Sri Lanka’s Tourism and Visa Updates successful 2025

As Sri Lanka continues to push guardant successful its efforts to boost tourism, it besides introduces important updates to its visa policy and tourism infrastructure successful 2025, making it moreover easier for world travelers to research nan island.

Visa-Free Entry for Indian Travelers

Starting from October 1, 2024, Sri Lanka has extended its visa-free introduction policy to citizens from 35 countries, including India. This marks a awesome inaugural to promote tourism by making it easier for Indian passport holders to recreation to Sri Lanka. Indian travelers tin now participate nan state without a visa for a enactment of up to 30 days. A valid passport is required for entry, but this argumentation makes Sri Lanka a much charismatic destination for Indian tourists.

New Online Visa System

In April 2024, Sri Lanka launched a revamped e-visa system, replacing nan erstwhile Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) process. This updated online visa platform, disposable astatine www.srilankaevisa.lk, streamlines nan exertion process for visitors and investors. Visitors tin now use online, make nan basal payments, and person their visa support earlier departure, making nan process overmuch much businesslike and accessible.

Visa Extension Options

For visitors wishing to enactment beyond nan first 30 days, nan caller e-visa strategy allows for easy extensions. Travelers tin use for extensions done nan online portal, taxable to support by nan Department of Immigration and Emigration. This elastic strategy is simply a invited summation for those readying longer stays successful Sri Lanka.

Other Visa-Free Access

In summation to India, citizens from respective different countries, including China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, are besides eligible for visa-free introduction to Sri Lanka. This inaugural is portion of Sri Lanka’s broader effort to pull much world visitors and revitalize its tourism industry.

Must-Visit Destinations successful Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka offers a wealthiness of earthy beauty, taste heritage, and humanities landmarks for travelers to explore. Here are immoderate of nan top destinations to sojourn successful Sri Lanka successful 2025:

• Colombo: The superior metropolis is simply a bustling hub pinch vibrant markets, assemblage architecture, and a move metropolis life.
• Kandy: Home to nan Temple of nan Tooth, a ineffable Buddhist site, and a metropolis surrounded by lush hills.
• Nuwara Eliya: Known for its cool climate, beverage plantations, and scenic landscapes, cleanable for quality lovers.
• Ella: A charming elevation position pinch stunning views, celebrated for its train thrust and hiking trails.
• Galle: A coastal metropolis known for its Dutch Fort and beautiful beaches, offering a cleanable blend of history and relaxation.

Essential Travel Tips

• Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
• Language: Sinhala and Tamil are nan astir wide spoken languages, but English is commonly utilized successful tourer areas.
• Best Time to Visit: The westbound and southbound coasts are perfect from December to March, while nan eastbound seashore is champion visited from April to September.
• Health Precautions: Ensure vaccinations are up-to-date earlier traveling. Carry immoderate basal medications, and enactment hydrated successful tropical conditions.
• Local Etiquette: When visiting belief sites, dress modestly, and retrieve to region shoes and hats earlier entering temples.

Conclusion: Sri Lanka’s Bright Future successful Tourism

The efforts by Phoenix Ogilvy Sri Lanka and SriLankan Airlines, highlighted by their award-winning campaign, are mounting a caller benchmark for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. With nan country’s accrued attraction connected world visibility and improving recreation experiences, mixed pinch nan latest visa updates, Sri Lanka is well-positioned to pull much world visitors successful 2025. Whether walking for culture, adventure, aliases relaxation, Sri Lanka promises an unforgettable acquisition for travelers worldwide.