A motorcycle tourism tour organised by Buzzword International Lanka Pvt Ltd to promote Sri Lanka as a travel destination concluded on Thursday (16), featuring members of Malaysia’s ShadowFax Motorcycle Club, including several leading businessmen.
Following the tour, the group met with Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, underscoring the event’s role in strengthening tourism ties and international collaboration.
Buzzword International, which has organised Colombo Bike Week since 2013, hosted the Malaysian delegation as part of the initiative. This was the second Sri Lanka tour undertaken by the ShadowFax team, following a previous visit in 2016.
Led by Dato’ Muruga Nantham, a biker with over 25 years of experience, the group travelled across the island on high-capacity Harley-Davidson motorcycles ranging from 1500cc to 1900cc.
The tour, held from April 6 to 17, covered destinations including Colombo, Jaffna, Passikudah, Arugam Bay, Mahiyanganaya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, and Hikkaduwa.
Organisers stated that the event generated more than USD 100,000 in foreign exchange earnings for Sri Lanka through spending on accommodation, flights, fuel, dining, personal expenses, and charitable donations.
Speaking during a special meeting held after the tour, Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage noted that attracting high-net-worth travellers contributes significantly to the country’s tourism sector.
Members of Sri Lanka’s Bikerholics Motorbike Club also joined the convoy in support of the visiting riders.
Buzzword International Lanka Chairman Tilak Leslie and Managing Director Neil Hassim said the company plans to organise more large-scale international motorcycle tours in partnership with government institutions, including the Ministry of Sports, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Police Department, and Customs Department.
LankaPay, SLTDA and Alipay+ partner to boost tourism and QR payment adoption in Sri Lanka
LankaPay, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), and Alipay+ have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at boosting Sri Lanka’s tourism sector and accelerating the adoption of QR-based digital payments across the country.
The collaboration will leverage Alipay+’s global digital wallet ecosystem, enabled locally through LankaPay, to position Sri Lanka as a preferred destination among travellers from Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Alipay+ currently connects more than 40 international e-wallets and banking apps, reaching over 1.8 billion user accounts globally.
As part of the initiative, Alipay+ will promote Sri Lanka through targeted travel campaigns aimed at attracting high-value tourists. Users of Alipay+ partner platforms will also receive exclusive offers and promotions when making payments through LankaQR while visiting Sri Lanka.
The initiative aligns with SLTDA’s growing focus on attracting travellers from key Asian and APAC markets amid evolving global tourism trends. Officials believe the partnership will improve Sri Lanka’s visibility and accessibility among these priority traveller segments.
The collaboration marks the first phase of a broader long-term partnership between LankaPay and SLTDA to support the development of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Through LankaQR, international visitors will be able to make seamless cross-border QR payments while also accessing AI-powered travel and promotional services offered via Alipay+.
Beyond tourism, the initiative is also expected to support local economic growth by encouraging micro and small businesses to adopt LankaQR payment acceptance, enabling them to better participate in the expanding global digital payments ecosystem and serve international customers more efficiently.
Malaysia’s ShadowFax motorbike team wraps up Sri Lanka tourism expedition
